Public Works and Environmental Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administrative office is open 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri.
703-324-5230 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 458, Fairfax, Va 22035
Eric Forbes
Director, Solid Waste Management

Recycle Glass at the Purple Bin

Purple Can Club (Glass Recycling)

How to Recycle Glass in Fairfax County

  • Bring glass containers to a purple can for recycling. See Northern Virginia Glass Recovery Map for a can location near you.
  • Glass deposited in the purple cans is used to make food and beverage containers, fiberglass insulation, and reflective materials.
  • Glass bottles and jars are not accepted in most curbside recycling programs throughout the region. Any glass placed in the curbside recycling bin will be landfilled, incinerated, or used as landfill cover.

What happens to the glass bottles and jars I put in the purple container?

Circular Economy

Did you recycle a glass jar last month?  You may be drinking out of it right now! A glass bottle can go from the purple can back to the store in as little as 30 days.  Check your glass bottle or jar to see if it was made right here in Virginia.  Use the following link to learn how to read a glass bottle manufactured by O-I.


Want to learn more?

Explore the resources below to find out more about glass recycling in Fairfax County.

Video

Podcasts

Purple Can

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can recycle glass in Fairfax County, just not in your curbside recycling bin. When glass was mixed with other recycling and placed at the curb, most of it would break in transport and the tiny shards would contaminate the other recyclables which would then be thrown away. Glass at the recycling facility was treated as residue and ultimately incinerated or landfilled. Recycling is charged by the ton and glass was heavy. Recycling collectors paid more for your recycling due to the weight of glass, glass fragments would contaminate the load ruining other recyclables, and the glass ended up in the trash at the recycling facility, where it also could negatively impact material recovery equipment. Removing glass from the curbside mixed (comingled) recycling and collecting it separately created a market for recycled glass.

The Purple Can Club allows glass to be truly recycled. Glass is sold to a recycling company and used to make new food and beverage containers, fiberglass insulation, and reflective materials.

Glass placed in your trash or recycling container will be taken to an incinerator, landfilled, or used as “alternative daily cover” to cover a landfill at the end of each day. The glass will NOT be recycled into new materials.

There are over 24 purple containers throughout Fairfax County and adjacent localities where you can drop off your glass bottles and jars. See the Northern Virginia Glass Recovery Map for container locations.

The purple containers are open and available every day.  Please use from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm only to not disturb neighbors with your glass recycling effort.

  • Clean glass bottles and jars of all colors are accepted.
  • Glass items not accepted include lamps, light bulbs, ceramics, porcelain, mirrors, windows, and sheet glass.
  • Rinse as best as possible.
  • Lids and labels can remain on to be sorted out later during processing.
  • Natural cork can be composted and synthetic corks can be recycled at certain retailers
  • Avoid leaving behind cardboard boxes or other non-glass containers (try to use reuseable bags to transport).

Mirrors, windows, vases, ornaments and other glass that is not in the form of a bottle or jar cannot be recycled. They should be taken to the 66 Transfer Station or 95 Landfill Complex for disposal.

Carefully package the glass into a rigid container. Label the package "GLASS" and set out with your trash for disposal.

Northern Virginia Glass Recover Map

Glass Drop-off Safety Recommendations

Fairfax County recommends that those using the glass drop-off program consider the following:

  • Wear a mask and eye protection
  • Wear long sleeves and gloves
  • Carry hand sanitizer with you and use after removing gloves

Fairfax Virtual Assistant