Fairfax City joins Purple Can Club for regional glass recycling; guidance for residents

Fairfax City staff described the Purple Can Club, a regional effort by Northern Virginia jurisdictions to collect clean, empty and dry glass bottles and jars in purple drop-off containers. Staff said changes in the global glass market and handling challenges have made curbside glass recycling difficult, and that the purple-can network offers a practical solution for keeping recyclable glass in local supply chains.

City presenters said there is a purple can on Page Avenue near Judicial Drive in Fairfax City and that residents may use any of more than two dozen containers across Northern Virginia. Accepted items include clean, empty and dry bottles and jars of any color, shape or size; lids and labels do not need to be removed. Prohibited items include bagged glass, ceramics, porcelain, Pyrex, mirrors, windows, glass sheets and household hazardous items such as lamps and light bulbs, which staff said require drop-off at the I-66 transfer station.

Staff clarified that, for now, residents whose recycling is picked up by Fairfax City crews may continue to place glass in curbside recycling until further notice, while those with contracted refuse services should check with their providers. Glass from the purple cans is taken to a Fairfax County crushing facility and processed into sand and gravel for local construction or sent for remanufacture into new glass products.

Presenters urged residents to avoid bagging glass and to use purple cans to maximize recovery of recyclable glass.