Skip Navigation
MarylandToday

Produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications

Subscribe Now

Glass Recycling Returns to UMD

By Maryland Today Staff

The University of Maryland has launched a new glass recycling collection program, part of a partnership with colleagues at a county facility in Northern Virginia that aims to maximize the value of the material.

The program marks the return of glass recycling on campus, one year after the university’s processor for its mixed recyclables, like many around the country, stopped accepting glass due to cost concerns.

As part of the new program’s pilot phase, developed by Facilities Management’s Recycling Team, purple dumpsters are now in place for campus community members to drop off empty, clean glass jars and bottles, regardless of color. They can be recycled with any metal rings, lids or paper labels still attached, but no miscellaneous glass items can be accepted. Additionally, glass should not be contained in plastic bags for recycling.

Items can be dropped off at the following locations:

  • Parking lot of Mulligans Bar & Grill at the University Golf Course
  • Outside of Maryland Stadium, Gate E
  • Behind Annapolis Hall

All glass collected on campus will be sent to Fairfax County, Va., which has established a successful glass recycling process at its county-owned landfill that turns the collected glass into sand and stone alternative. These materials can then be used in road construction or to create sandbags or landscape drainage media.

All regional glass recycling drop-offs can also be found on an online map. For more information on the program, visit terpsrecycle.umd.edu or email campus recycling coordinator Adrienne Small at asmall@umd.edu.

Maryland Today is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications for the University of Maryland community on weekdays during the academic year, except for university holidays.