FCC Environmental Services MRFs receive glass certification

The Glass Recycling Coalition (GRC), Ann Arbor, Michigan, has announced FCC Environmental Services has received gold-level certification for two material recovery facilities (MRFs) based in Dallas and Houston. According to GRC, FCC Environmental Services is the first to receive gold designation for MRFs without integrated glass beneficiation in the state of Texas and the eighth and ninth MRFs to receive this certification in the country.

“As this certification grows, it is evident that more MRFs are seeing the value in offering processes and technology to clean up the glass,” says Scott DeFife, president of GRC. “Glass is a core recyclable and residents want to recycle it and end markets are eager for this material. This certification gives an advantage for MRFs willing to take extra steps.”

In 2016, the city of Houston announced the removal of glass from its single-stream curbside collection contract. GRC reports that access to glass recycling was challenging when looking for a new processing contract for recyclable materials received from more than 400,000 households. In 2018, the city signed a 15-year contract with an option for a five-year extension. FCC built a MRF that would bring commingled glass collection to its program.

“FCC Environmental Services proudly accepts these certifications as a testament to both of our state-of-the-art technology MRFs designed to produce quality materials,” says CEO Inigo Sanz. “Notably, we returned glass recycling to the city of Houston for the benefit of our community.”

According to a news release from GRC, its free certification program recognizes MRFs with additional equipment and operational procedures to clean up glass in both single- and dual-stream systems, producing more marketable and higher quality glass. The GRC MRF Glass Certification was launched in the fall of 2019. In 2021, the glass certification criteria were updated to prioritize end market consistency and more thorough glass cleaning before beneficiations.

Eligible applications are judged on current infrastructure and a glass purity measure aligning with the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ Three-Mix Specification. An independent committee scores certification levels into gold, silver, and bronze certifications. According to GRC, MRFs holding this certification will have a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

GRC also has an interactive map that shows MRFs, glass processors and end markets across the country. GRC-certified MRFs are noted on the map, along with public recognition of the certification.