Glass Recycling Foundation Grant Program

The Glass Recycling Foundation (GRF) operates a grant program aimed at enhancing glass recovery, diverting it from landfills, and connecting glass generators with viable end markets. This initiative aligns directly with the GRF's overarching mission as a non-profit foundation dedicated to funding and distributing resources to intervention, demonstration, and pilot projects that address existing gaps within the glass recycling supply chain across the United States. The program serves as a strategic priority for the GRF, embodying its theory of change by focusing on tangible projects that can strengthen the circular economy for glass. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit entities, municipal, county, city, and state governments, public waste management districts, and publicly owned/operated Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) or service providers. The impact goals are to increase the quantity of glass recycled, improve the quality of diverted materials, and establish stronger end markets for recycled glass. By funding projects that show glass returning to the supply chain for manufacturing, the GRF aims to achieve a higher and better use of recycled glass, thereby promoting circularity. The grant program prioritizes projects under two main categories: demonstration projects and education projects. Demonstration projects are designed to address specific gaps in the glass recycling supply chain and offer alternative strategies for reinforcing glass end markets. Examples include funding for equipment to clean recycled glass, collection containers for glass drop-offs, the development of regional strategies for collection and storage infrastructure, and hauling systems to boost collection rates. These projects are expected to result in more efficient and effective glass collection and processing, leading to increased recovery rates and a more robust supply chain. Education projects, on the other hand, focus on public awareness and engagement. These projects must present a clear message and strategy for educating the public about the environmental and community benefits of glass recycling, as well as methods for improving the quality of materials diverted by residents. Potential initiatives include developing and presenting training programs on effective glass collection and recycling practices, writing and disseminating case studies and guidance documents, creating signage for residential glass recycling drop-offs, and launching public education campaigns about community glass recycling. The expected outcomes for these projects include a more informed public, increased participation in glass recycling, and a reduction in contamination rates of recycled glass.