Recycling Your Glass
Questions
Why doesn’t the city or county government provide curbside glass recycling?
Glass recycling presents unique challenges in Yakima County. Unlike cardboard, paper, or metal, there are no nearby facilities equipped to process recycled glass. As a result, collected glass must be transported long distances to reach a recycling facility. Because glass is heavy, transportation costs can quickly exceed the material's value, making curbside collection and recycling prohibitively expensive.
In addition, local governments have historically viewed glass differently from many other recyclable materials. Glass is considered an inert material, meaning it does not decompose into harmful substances or create significant environmental risks when disposed of in a properly managed landfill. Given the lack of local recycling infrastructure, the high transportation costs, and the relative safety of landfilling glass, local governments have determined that curbside glass recycling is not currently a practical use of public resources.
What happens to the glass you collect?
The glass we collect is processed by GrindIt, a local company that crushes it into different grades of cullet and sand. This recycled glass is then put to beneficial use, with much of it sold to golf courses as bunker fill, helping divert glass from the landfill and giving it a new purpose.
Why is there a charge for your service?
The fees we charge help cover the costs of providing our services and ensuring that our collection events run smoothly. Like any organization, we have ongoing expenses, including insurance, website hosting and maintenance, and email communication services. We also need to maintain the equipment and supplies that support our work.
We also believe in recognizing and celebrating our volunteers from time to time as a way of thanking them for their dedication and contributions.
Our goal is not to generate excessive profit, but to ensure that we can continue offering reliable, high-quality services while supporting the people and resources that make our work possible.
Take Responsibility for Your Glass
Glass is 100% recyclable and can be reused endlessly without losing quality. By recycling your glass with Yakima Recycles Glass, you help reduce landfill waste and support a more sustainable Yakima County.
What We Accept
✓ Wine bottles
✓ Beer bottles
✓ Liquor bottles
✓ Food jars
✓ Beverage bottles
✓ Clear, green, brown, and blue container glass
What We Cannot Accept
✗ Window glass
✗ Mirrors
✗ Tempered Glass
✗ Pyrex and cookware
✗ Ceramics and porcelain
✗ Light bulbs
✗ Automotive glass
Prepare Your Glass for Recycling
Speed up the process and be safe while preparing your glass for a YRG collection event
Remove Metal and Plastic
Use a utility knife or pliers to cut away aluminum screw-top collars and cut away plastic rings from caps.
Don't Worry About Labels
Don't waste your time and effort soaking and scraping labels. The recycling process will eliminate this material.
Use Sturdy Containers
Pack your glass in sturdy crates or boxes instead of plastic or paper bags. This will keep you and our volunteers safe when we handle it.
