No more special trips to drop off recycled glass as it could now be picked up from your house. 

An agreement between Momentum Recycling and West Valley City was unanimously approved by the West Valley City Council in early May providing residents the opportunity to have curbside glass collection and recycling. The contract is set for five years with two possible three-year extensions after that. 

The program will be optional for residents who wish to participate, explained Jonathan Springmeyer, the city’s chief sustainability officer, who reached out to Momentum in an attempt “to increase some of the sustainability opportunities for our residents.” 

“Glass is the easiest of our household materials to recycle, much easier than plastic or aluminum,” Springmeyer said. 

It would cost residents $8 or “one-third of what we pay for Netflix,” Springmeyer told the council during its study meeting. 

He also emphasized people won’t need to clean their glass nor remove labels or plastic tabs prior to placing it in the can as is required with other recyclables. 

The city currently has three glass recycling locations at the Maverik Center overflow parking lot (3025 S. Decker Lake Drive), the southwest end of the Public Works Operations facility (2805 S. 3600 West), and in the west parking lot of the Family Fitness Center (5415 W. 3100 South). Those bins will remain in place. 

“We’re going to increase our opportunities for glass recycling rather than change them,” Springmeyer said. 

Momentum Recycling will need 150 subscribers before rolling it out across the city, but Springmeyer said they already have 60 residents who had reached out independently. Councilmember Jake Fitisemanu said his wife is one of those 60 residents and he is happy to have it picked up from his house rather than driving to one of the bin locations. 

A can would be provided to residents who would then get a message prior to its pickup day once a month. All sizes, colors, household and food items, bottles and even non-tempered plate glass are accepted. 

Springmeyer detailed the process explaining the company is located in Salt Lake City, picks up the glass and processes it at their facility. Some of the recycled material goes to make more bottles while the rest goes to a place in Payson which turns it into fiberglass. 

“Which then helps our insulation and our heating efficiency and helps sustainability and we just get in this really cool cycle,” said Springmeyer, who freely admitted he already recycles glass with Momentum.

He knows of neighborhoods who recycle collectively sharing cans. 

The agreement will cost nothing for the city, its only responsibility would be to promote it and direct any calls that come in about glass recycling to Momentum and in return, the company would be the exclusive provider of curbside glass recycling for the city. 

Once the company receives 150 subscribers from West Valley City, the program can begin. 

“I’m excited about it,” Springmeyer said. λ