St. Augustine Beach mayor Beth Sweeney highlights citys glass recycling program

Mayor Beth Sweeney spoke with Steve Wright, the City of St. Augustine Beachs solid waste manager, about the citys glass recycling program during a brief "Mondays with the Mayor" segment.

Steve Wright said he has worked for the city for 21 years and has been the solid waste manager for six months. "The glass program was started back in 2023," he said. "Since then, we have recycled over a half [million] pounds of glass. We average roughly a ton and a half per week." Wright said there are five drop-off sites: four inside St. Augustine and the one at City Hall in St. Augustine Beach.

Wright described how the program operates: the city collects glass at the drop-off locations, consolidates material in a 20-yard roll-off container and hauls full loads to Jacksonville. "They sort it by color," he said, and the material is repurposed for uses including road base, landscaping and making new glass products.

Asked about materials that should not be placed in the recycling bin, Wright said the program accepts primarily food- and beverage-related glass and excludes items such as dishware, crystal, ceramic, porcelain, automotive windows, mirrors and picture frames because those items can contaminate loads and are processed differently. He said staff sorts out prohibited items when they are found.

Sweeney asked whether residents should rinse containers before dropping them off; Wright recommended rinsing jars to reduce flies and keep the drop-off area sanitary. He said crews typically empty the container once a week and may do so more often around holidays when usage increases.

Sweeney closed by thanking Wright and residents for participating in the program and encouraging continued use of the bin at City Hall. The segment did not include any formal motions, votes or changes to city policy.