US glassmakers promote recycling: trade group in three-prong attack to improve glass re-use.

"Our ultimate goal is to divert post-manufacturing and post-consumer glass, that would otherwise be sent to landfills, to a variety of added-value products and processes," says GMIC executive director Michael Greenman. "We will link individuals, organisations, companies and municipalities to co-ordinate efforts to expand beneficial uses of glass that is not destined to be reused in a melting furnace."

Numerous information related services are being provided to members by the GMIC Recycling Division. They include a directory of cullet users and providers; a website; chat pages; communication on regulations; information retrieval service for technologies, glass sources and industry activities; and research for R&D grant opportunities.

Mr Greenman says the formation of the division is part of a three prong national action plan to address challenges to glass recycling in the USA. As well as GMIC, other organisations involved in the scheme are the National Recycling Coalition; the Glass Packaging Institute; and the Recycle America Alliance.

Three independent workgroups have been formed, Mr Greenman says. One is working to identify the critical costs points in the glass container recycling system, with the goal of devising and implementing strategies to improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of the glass recycling system.

The second work group is assessing the feasibility and desirability of establishing an industry-wide standardised system for measuring cullet quality. This group's goal is to improve the quality of glass cullet by enhancing the effectiveness of the feedback loop for material quality between suppliers, processors and end users.

The third work group is examining the challenges and opportunities for increasing cullet use in alternative, other than glass container products. It will also support the efforts of the other two groups to improve glass recycling effectiveness overall.

"The success of the Glass Recycling Division is vital because of the dilemma surrounding glass recycling in the United States," Mr Greenman says. "There are numerous issues and problems in glass recycling all of which are making headlines- this country is far behind others in glass recycling."

Alternative markets for culler include concrete, construction aggregates, drainage media, insulation, paving, blast media, building and decorative materials, and art objects.

"We believe our Division will help facilitate the development of new glass markets and the growth of existing ones," Mr Greenman says. "This will have a significant impact on future uses and keep glass away from landfills."

* Michael Greenman, executive director, GMIC, Westerville OH, USA. Website www.gmic.org