SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The city of Spokane has been struggling to find uses for its recycled glass, as the mound of bottles and other glass has continued to pile up.
The Spokesman Review reports the city plans this summer to use some of the glass in roadbeds, but it continues to explore other options such as using crushed glass as mulch.
Across the country, other communities have struggled to make glass recycling pay off. The demand for recycled glass is low compared to recycled metal and plastic and transportation costs are steep because the material is heavy.
States like Washington and Idaho have a harder time finding a market for glass because neighboring Oregon and British Columbia require deposits for beverage bottles. States with deposit laws usually provide manufacturers with glass that’s cleaner and easier to use.
