RECYCLE FOR PENNSYLVANIA

Let’s build a better, more sustainable future for communities throughout Pennsylvania, one glass bottle and jar at a time. Join us in keeping glass out of the trash!
IIn late 2021, Prism and OI Glass, Inc (O-I) joined forces to establish a deliberate closed-loop stream of recycled glass material and support local businesses along the way—a first-of-its-kind partnership. Efforts are targeted in Erie County with a vision to expand to other municipalities in Pennsylvania.

The partnership provides an opportunity for high-volume bars, restaurants, social clubs, and Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB)-licensed beverage distributors to opt-in to recycle their glass bottles and jars. Glass-only collection containers and hauling are provided by local waste management provider, Pro Waste Services. When volumes hit peak tonnage at the Prism storage bunker, they are transported to CAP Glass in Mt Pleasant, PA and processed into furnace ready cullet. From there, the cullet is delivered to one of the two O-I manufacturing plants in Northcentral, PA.

The program developed from this partnership is two-fold: (1) bars, restaurants, and social clubs divert glass from their waste stream and (2) PLCB-licensed beverage distributors offer a convenient way for customers to bring back empty bottles and jars for recycling.

As a global leader in the glass manufacturing industry, O-I has a number of major brands as clients. Meaning, it’s not a stretch to believe material recycled through this effort will end up right back on a shelf in Erie County as a new bottle or jar.

Key Partners

Various bottles of beer manufacturers
CAP GLASS

CAP Glass—a division of Carry All Products—recycles more than 200,000 tons of glass each year at its processing plant in Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania. Owner, Shawn Pilla, has over thirty years of experience in the glass industry and is an operational and mechanical consultant for companies throughout the United States. CAP Glass provides industry expertise as well as glass processing for the various Prism collection programs in Erie County.

ERIE MANAGEMENT GROUP

Erie Management Group (EMG) invests in and manages companies to capitalize economic opportunities within Northwest Pennsylvania. Created in 2004 by Samuel P. “Pat” Black, III, EMG now shares it helm with Black’s daughter, Sumi James-Black, and has grown to support nine Black-affiliated businesses with over 350 employees across five states. EMG provides financial and project support, as well as human capital to Prism efforts.

Various bottles of beer manufacturers
Various bottles of beer manufacturers
OWENS-ILLINOIS

OI Glass, Inc. (NYSE: OI) headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio, is the largest manufacturer of glass containers in North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, with 71 plants in 20 countries. Founded in 1929 in Toledo, OI Glass has a large Pennsylvania presence with two glass container manufacturing plants in Jefferson County that together employ 425 area residents. O-I is focused on advancing its sustainability agenda by reducing energy emissions, increasing recycled content in its containers, and investing in the communities it serves.

PRO WASTE SERVICES

Pro Waste Services has over 75 years of combined experience through the Pol and Baumann families. The business is locally owned and operated by Al Pol, Bryan Pol, and Donnie Baumann, Jr., and offers full-service waste and recycling services in Northwest Pennsylvania. Pro Waste Services provides contract hauling for all Prism collection programs in Erie County, PA.

Various bottles of beer manufacturers