PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles city residents can recycle their glass again starting today.
The city of Port Angeles announced Thursday that glass will be accepted at both the Port Angeles Regional Transfer Station and Blue Mountain Transfer Station, thanks to a new partnership with glass processor Sibelco in Seattle.
“Sibelco was previously Strategic Materials, Inc. Strategic Materials was purchased by Sibelco after they filed for bankruptcy and closed their plant,” said Scott Curtin, Port Angeles’ Public Works & Utilities director. “The city of Port Angeles originally entered into an agreement with Strategic Materials in April 2023, as they were one of two options available in western Washington at that time — and the only one willing to accept glass from us as the market was rather saturated.”
Sibelco is honoring the agreement made with Strategic Materials, Curtin said, and it is automatically renewable for successive three-year terms.
Glass recycling was paused in October due to unexpected changes in the recycled glass market, which caused the city’s previous glass processor to stop accepting material, according to a city news release.
“The cullet (processed glass) from Strategic Materials went next door to a bottle manufacturing plant, which shuttered its doors in 2024 due to being unable to be competitive with foreign producers,” Curtin said. “The cullet is now being transported by rail to Portland, Ore. We cannot accurately predict what the future may hold for glass recycling, as many factors such as transportation costs, foreign producers, energy costs, etc., come into play.”
With Sibelco, “the process for glass recycling will remain largely the same,” according to the news release. “The city will continue to utilize separate glass recycling bins to prevent the co-mingling of glass with other recyclable materials. This reduces contamination and allows for more efficient processing, thus keeping costs low.”
Glass will be sent to Sibelco, where it will be crushed and prepared for recycling. The cullet, or processed glass, will then be transferred by rail to a recycling facility in Portland.
“Residents are encouraged to drop off their household glass for recycling at either the Port Angeles Regional Transfer Station or the Blue Mountain Transfer Station,” according to the release. “The glass must be empty, clean and dry.”
There is no cost to drop off glass for recycling, but the city receives $15 per ton for the glass it delivers to Sibelco, Curtin said.
“Our loads typically average about 30 tons, and the cost per trip for hauling is approximately $1,600,” he said. “This results in a negative return of approximately $38 per ton delivered or $8,475 annually.”
More than 220 tons of glass were recycled in 2024. Curtin said the city assumes the numbers will remain close to previous years.
The Port Angeles Regional Transfer Station is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at 3501 W. 18th St. The Blue Mountain Transfer Station is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 1024 Blue Mountain Road.
For more information about the city’s solid waste operations, go to cityofpa.us/solidwaste or call the Public Works & Utilities Department at 360-417-4800.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
