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Evansville pushes glass drop-off pilot, circular-economy partnerships and local biofuel prospects
Summary
The Collaborative announced a drive-up glass recycling pilot at Tri State Resource Recovery (1511 Harriet Street) with material sold to Knopf for insulation, discussed local circular-economy partnerships (including contacts at SABIC) and explored local biofuel projects and feedstock prospects such as AgRenew and Savanna Bioenergy.
The Evansville Climate Collaborative on Aug. 14 highlighted several waste- and resource-focused efforts that together aim to advance a circular-economy approach in the region.
Staff said Tri State Resource Recovery is running a drive-up glass drop-off pilot Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., and that collected glass will be transported by a recycling services firm and sold to Knopf, an Indiana manufacturer that produces insulation. Laura Norville gave the drop-off address as 1511 Harriet Street and said the local MRF will accept glass on behalf of the community.
Norville credited local advocates including the group Zero Waste to Evansville and Mary Allen, plus Jean Carlson at the solid-waste district, for helping coordinate the effort. At least one board member suggested the Collaborative could leverage corporate partnerships; Norville said she had shared contact information for Jason Dedman, described in the meeting as the director of global sustainability and carbon neutrality at SABIC, as a potential resource.
Board members and staff also discussed bio-based fuels and materials. Norville described conversations with an American Lung Association contact about bio-based turf and fuels, and the group discussed biodiesel blends as an interim fleet strategy — noting B40 can be used without vehicle conversion in some cases. Norville and others raised local manufacturing prospects, citing a company named Agra Renew (also referenced as AgRenew) planning a facility south of Vincennes to convert agricultural field waste into fuels, and a separate firm, Savanna Bioenergy, scouting local opportunities.
Why it matters: The glass pilot and interest in local feedstock and biofuel producers are practical steps toward keeping materials and energy value inside the region and reducing landfill and transportation emissions. Staff framed these efforts as complementary — recycling infrastructure today and potential local fuel/feedstock businesses tomorrow.
What’s next: Staff said they are working to publicize the glass drop-off and to continue outreach with local businesses and partners; board members signaled interest in exploring vendor participation for electrification and fuel-processing demonstrations.
