Savannah’s glass recycling comeback takes shape
Glass recycling could return to Savannah next year
Seven drop-off sites could reopen by the first quarter of 2027.
Above Video: Your Weekend Weather Forecast
Savannah is taking another step toward restoring glass recycling services.
City officials said during their city council workshop on Thursday that they received an update showing glass recycling could return next year. They’re now looking for vendors and creative partners to help bring the program back to the community.
City leaders said restoring glass recycling has been years in the making. They estimate more than 20 tons of glass came through Savannah during a pilot program a few years ago. The program’s return will come from a $250,000 grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to help launch the effort.
This June, Savannah will begin accepting proposals from businesses or organizations that want to recycle or repurpose the material. Because the city is waiting to receive proposals, officials say it’s unclear yet whether the project will earn — or cost — the city money.
Nick Palumbo, alderman for Savannah District 4, said the city has worked for years to fully restore single-stream recycling.
“So this has been a long and storied saga for us to fully restore single stream recycling here in the city of Savannah. And really, the white whale, the one that got away, the one that we’ve been chasing after, has always been glass recycling,” Palumbo said. “The end goal is we want to divert this out of our waste stream so that we can save space in our landfill and better protect our environment.”
The plan calls for seven drop-off sites to reopen across Savannah by the first quarter of 2027.
Palumbo said the long-term goal is to eventually restore curbside glass recycling citywide while keeping more waste out of local landfills. The drop-off locations will be open to all residents, not just people who live within Savannah’s city limits.