City hears Ripple Glass data as curbside participation plateaus; Aldi drop-off offsets some decline

Representatives from Ripple Glass reviewed Roeland Park’s curbside glass recycling program and answered council questions about participation trends, route performance and program accessibility. Franklin Rosario, Ripple Glass regional sourcing manager, and plant manager Justin Miller said curbside household participation was steady in the low- to mid-20% range but showed a December dip tied to weather delays; the Aldi drop-off bin increased overall municipal tonnage.

"With the Aldi Bin included, we saw a bit of an uptick in total from Roeland Park in 2025 compared to 2024," said Franklin Rosario. Staff and council discussed whether participation declines reflect pickup-day timing, resident turnover, or awareness among new residents and realtors. Council members suggested targeted outreach to new movers and realtor education; Ripple Glass agreed to share route-level data and consider more frequent reminders.

Accessibility and equipment were also discussed: staff and residents asked about smaller rolling bins for residents with difficult terrain, and Ripple Glass said truck lift and compatibility constraints make very small carts a challenge. "We want more glass — anything we can do on our end, we're going to do it," Justin Miller said, acknowledging the program's goals to increase tonnage while responding to year-to-year variation.

Council members asked staff for follow-up data, including per-capita production and comparisons with similar cities, and thanked Ripple Glass for the presentation. The council approved no immediate policy change but directed staff to return with additional metrics and options for outreach and equipment adjustments.