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ABQ How-To: Recycle Glass

I'm having fun with my video camera and playing get-acquainted with the editing software. Here's the first in what will hopefully be a series of how-tos for some of the minor aspects of Albuquerque living. Got any suggestions for topics? Let me know!

This how-to covers glass recycling in the Duke City. I got to thinking about the process after reading the news about the city recently finding a customer for its glass. It's mentioned in the NM Independent, but the original Journal article is behind an ad wall.

My favorite part of recycling glass is when you go to the place where you last recycled to find that the bins have moved. I've done that about half a dozen times over the years.

Tags: albuquerque, glass, recycle, video

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Comment by ABQrising on February 19, 2009 at 12:21pm: Can't forget the last step...

Comment by Neonnoodle on February 19, 2009 at 7:05pm: Nice, Edith. We were kind of annoyed they moved the recycling drop-off from the Walmart over here on San Mateo and Central. Although, come to think of it, you could ever fit anything into it as it was constantly overflowing.

Comment by Mi3ke on February 19, 2009 at 7:46pm: I would add a step: Fling bottles around the inside of the dumpster so you get a small, stress reliefing, thrill of hearing them break into 1000's of little pieces.

Cheers, mi3ke

Comment by Robert S. on February 19, 2009 at 10:19pm: good video.

Lipstick lapel mike needed, tho. The voice over was better quality audio, almost like you had your own V-O recording booth. ;)

I'm glad this video is now part of the documentation of Albuquerque history. Imagine in a few decades you have people seeing how stupid it is that we had to schlep our bottles to a recycling dumpster when all they have to do is put their bottle in a fuser that melts/compacts the glass into a cowchip-sized disk for easy recycling at the curb. ;)

Comment by Jezibel on February 20, 2009 at 9:11am: ha, my exact routine, down to the sunflower paper bag and never washing the mini SUV! I hate the recycle centers at Walmart, they're always packed with what looks like trash!
I go to the Southern/Eubank community center location. Makes me happy.

Comment by JeSais on February 20, 2009 at 11:18am: I totally don't understand the glass recycling policies in this town. and it irks me to no end. Even if we get the blue bin curbside recycling we still will have to drive our glass to some mystery location... I learned pretty quickly to check the city website for recycling bin locations before I leave my house, lest the bin be gone.

Comment by Brent Morris on February 21, 2009 at 11:03pm: Excellent post, Edith. I wish I had seen this a couple of days ago as I had three huge tubs of glass sitting in my garage since the Walmart on San Mateo stopped taking them. I had to ask around and finally got the kind lady at the Salvation Army to point me to that same drop point. I remember collecting bottles & taking them back to the grocery as a kid in California for nickels & dimes, does anyone do that anymore?

Comment by Shady Lady on February 21, 2009 at 11:53pm: Like Brent, we let the glass pile up in the garage. One day, I took several bins to recycling, then picked up the kids at school. When the kids, and their friends, got in the car they said it reeked of beer. Oops.

Comment by Christie Mc on February 22, 2009 at 8:36pm: A suggestion for a future "how-to" topic: trimming a paddle cactus without it looking as if it's been massacred. I've used shovels, tree loppers, and most recently, an axe to get through the really woody thick parts of this dinosaur prickly pear plant. Thanks!

Comment by akoolstik on February 22, 2009 at 9:44pm: edith,

you missed an opportunity to discuss safety glasses. you were properly wearing your very stylish safety glasses. however, some recycle bins do not have the safety flaps, and the breaking glass does sometimes bounce out of the bin.

also, if you have a short assistant , as i did today, you may need to instruct them to put the open side of the bottle in first. my assistant was holding the bottles by the open side, and when reaching up to put the bottle into the bin, some liquid dripped onto him.

looking forward to you next how-to!