NERC report analyzes regional glass recycling

Chris Voloschuk | Recycling Today • July 3, 2026

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), Brattleboro, Vermont, recently released its “Northeast Flow of Glass Report,” a regional analysis looking at glass container generation, collection, recycling, disposal, policies and end markets across the 11 states in the 11 Northeast states.


The report was developed by NERC’s Glass Committee with support from state agencies, industry partners and stakeholders across the region and builds on the organization’s previous research into glass recovery, processing and end markets. NERC says it is meant to provide a comprehensive snapshot of how glass moves through the Northeast materials management system and highlights opportunities to strengthen glass recycling through policy, infrastructure investment and market development.


According to NERC, key findings in the report include:

  • Vermont (79.9 percent) and Connecticut (77 percent)—two states that operate deposit return systems (DRS)—recycled the highest share of glass containers relative to total glass container scrap generated.
  • Connecticut led the region in per capita glass collection at 65.8 pounds per resident.
  • New York collected the greatest total tonnage of glass containers for recycling at 281,065 tons annually, followed by New Jersey with approximately 197,000 tons.
  • Five states in the region operate DRS programs that include glass beverage containers.
  • All Northeast states provide residents with access to curbside and/or drop-off recycling programs.
  • Reporting methodologies vary significantly among states, affecting direct comparisons of recycling performance.
  • Recycled glass supports multiple end markets, including new containers, fiberglass, concrete applications and aggregate products.


“Glass is one of the few packaging materials that can be recycled repeatedly with minimal loss of quality,” says NERC Executive Director Megan Schulz-Fontes. “The data show that strong collection systems and supportive policies can significantly increase glass recovery and create valuable feedstock for manufacturers.”


NERC says its findings demonstrate that opportunities exist across the region to increase glass recovery through improved collection systems, stronger processing infrastructure and continued end market development. It also claims its analysis reveals “substantial variation” in state reporting methodologies, recycling requirements and collection systems.


Per the report, while all Northeast states provide residents with access to curbside and/or drop-off programs, collection models differ considerably. Five states operate DRS programs, several off source-separated glass drop-off programs and Pennsylvania is the only state identified as providing source-separated curbside glass collection in select communities. NERC says these differences present challenges when comparing data across states and highlight the need for continued efforts to improve reporting consistency and transparency.


The report notes that recycled glass serves a growing number of end markets, including new glass containers, fiberglass insulation, pozzolan for concrete, foam glass aggregate and other construction applications. “Many of these markets require high-quality glass cullet with low contamination levels, making effective collection and processing systems essential,” NERC writes.


Although glass is heavier than many alternative packaging materials and can be more transportation-intensive when moved long distances, NERC reports that increasing local and regional collection, cleaning and processing capacity can improve environmental outcomes. The organization says recycled glass can help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with manufacturing by replacing virgin materials and supporting a more circular economy.


NERC says its findings suggest that strategic investments in collection systems, processing infrastructure and end market development could increase glass recovery rates throughout the Northeast while supporting resource conservation, economic development and reductions in GHG emissions.


Read on Recycling Today.

Share Post

Connecticut Tire Stewardship

By Sophie Leone • July 28, 2026
Connecticut Tire Stewardship (CTS) is the nonprofit organization responsible for implementing Connecticut's Tire Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program. Working with municipal transfer stations, tire retailers, auto shops, car dealerships, and other collection partners, CTS helps ensure discarded tires are responsibly collected, recycled, and put to beneficial new uses. Approximately 3.5 million tires reach the end of their useful life in Connecticut each year. Through its statewide Roll Recycle Renew program, CTS provides residents with free tire recycling opportunities while giving municipalities a practical solution for managing scrap tires. By making responsible disposal more accessible, the program helps reduce illegal dumping, protect waterways and natural resources, and keep tires out of landfills. "Connecticut Tire Stewardship is pleased to join NERC and become part of a network of organizations working to advance sustainable materials management across the Northeast. We look forward to sharing ideas, learning from our peers, and expanding responsible tire recycling opportunities throughout Connecticut," said Jesse Schofield, Executive Director of Connecticut Tire Stewardship. NERC is excited to welcome Connecticut Tire Stewardship and support its mission as a Tire Stewardship Organization implementing Extended Producer Responsibility for tires and working toward a more sustainable circular economy. For more information on Connecticut Tire Stewardship visit.

EBC Welcomes New Member: Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)

By Environmental Business Council of New England • July 23, 2026
Please join the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) in welcoming Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) as a new member of the organization. “NERC is a non-profit organization that conducts research, hands-on projects, training, and outreach on issues associated with source reduction, recycling, composting, environ­mentally preferable purchasing, and decreasing the toxicity of the solid waste stream. Eleven states united for environmentally sustainable materials management. We provide webinars, conferences, networking, blogs, and regional collaboration to drive the recycling economy. Special programs include: Government Recycling Demand Champions, State Electronics Challenge, Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse, and the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse. “ EBC members include businesses and nonprofits specializing in environmental and energy technology, services, and products. They range from one-person entrepreneurial ventures and nonprofit organizations to established corporations with thousands of employees. Explore the EBC Member Directory for a complete listing of member organizations. To learn more about Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) including their discipline and services provided, please follow the link . Read on EBCNE .

US thrift boom could keep more textiles from landfills as Gen Z drives resale

By James Nanzo | The Cool Down • July 16, 2026
Americans looking to stretch their budgets are increasingly turning to thrift stores, and that shift could pay off in ways that go beyond cheaper fashion, as Retail Dive detailed . Growing interest in resale could also cut textile waste by keeping clothing in use longer before it ends up in the trash. What's happening? At a Northeast Recycling Council webinar, panelists described thrift stores as an important checkpoint before clothing becomes waste, according to Retail Dive. As secondhand shopping becomes more common, more garments have a chance to be reused, resold, repaired, or otherwise redirected instead of being thrown away. Giana Manganaro Cronin, associate director of retail for More Than Words, said high prices, tariff worries, and broader economic uncertainty have made more consumers willing to thrift, as Retail Dive reported. Young consumers are a big part of that momentum. Cronin said roughly 64% of Gen Z shoppers check resale avenues before purchasing something new, according to Retail Dive. Meanwhile, Uli Stosch, chief officer of strategic development for Planet Aid, pointed to a ThredUp report cited by Retail Dive that estimated 14% growth in the U.S. secondhand apparel market in 2024 and a rise to $74 billion by 2029. Why does it matter? For budget-conscious households, secondhand shopping can mean major savings on basics such as jeans, jackets, and kids clothes along with the chance to find rare or high-value items at steep discounts. A big challenge with textile waste is that clothing is hard to sort and recycle. Katarina Goodge, a materials research engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said recyclers often do not have the details they need to handle garments correctly, per Retail Dive. "We need to know the fiber content to know how to recycle that garment," Goodge explained at the summit, according to the outlet. The reach of secondhand clothing goes well beyond local thrift racks. Retail Dive reported that more than 1.5 billion people globally depend on secondhand clothing, and that a study from Full Cycle Resource revealed Guatemala imported 290 million pounds in 2023, reusing more than 91% of it. Even so, Stosch said many stores sell only about 10-50% of what they receive, with some of the remainder compressed for export under the "mixed rags" label, according to Retail Dive. Keeping clothes in circulation longer can reduce strain on landfills and lower demand for resource-intensive new production. Still, the clothes that don't make it aren't easy to deal with. Stosch said workers in countries such as Pakistan and Malaysia often sort clothing by hand, according to Retail Dive. What's being done? Possible solutions are coming from both researchers and policymakers. Goodge said that handheld near-infrared tools used with artificial intelligence or machine learning could speed up fiber identification, which may eventually make textile recycling more practical at scale, per Retail Dive. States are also stepping in, Retail Dive noted. In Massachusetts, textile disposal bans have already drawn more attention to clothing that cannot be resold. Stosch said receiving clean but slightly damaged clothing is workable for thrift stores, according to Retail Dive. The outlet reported that California is putting its textile extended producer responsibility law into effect, a move expected to expand donation, repair, and recycling options. Goodge concluded that repair has "huge potential" to cut into the problem, as Retail Dive reported . Read article on yahoolife.