Aspinwall, Blawnox and O'Hara partner on permanent glass recycling dumpster

Glass recycling will be lost in some municipal trash hauling contracts across the Lower Valley but O’Hara, Aspinwall and Blawnox are making sure an alternate service continues for residents.

The three communities are banding together to offer a permanent glass recycling dumpster at the O’Hara municipal building.

The 22-foot by 8-foot container will sit in the far corner of the administrative parking lot. Manager Julie Jakubec said the township will pour a concrete pad for it.

“We have the space,” Jakubec said. “Both Blawnox and Aspinwall do not have locations for such a large container so it made sense to partner.

“All three communities value the importance of recycling.”

Glass is 100% recyclable and can be repurposed endlessly without a loss in purity, according to the Glass Packaging Institute.

The towns will work with Pennsylvania Resources Council which is seeking local government partners to ensure bottles, jars and other items continue to be recycled.

Blawnox and Aspinwall councils each voted to approve the program during meetings April 14.

Aspinwall Manager Melissa Lang-O’Malley said the dumpster will be accompanied by a handicapped-accessible ramp and security cameras. There will also be signs that designate it is for residents of Aspinwall, Blawnox and O’Hara.

Aspinwall council President Tim McLaughlin said there is no method to stop others from using it but that he relied on people to be good neighbors.

The cost to dump the container will be $600 each time, split equally by the three communities.

O’Malley said she expected residents will be eager to use the service and the dumpster might fill up quickly at first, prompting more of a need to empty it. She doesn’t expect the cost to become a problem.

The dumpster will be accessible 24/7.

Council debated the benefits of the contract, saying they agreed with the idea of recycling glass but were concerned that tax dollars would be used to pay for the bin in O’Hara. Some members argued that people can drop off glass for free at Construction Junction in East Liberty.

In the end, however, council agreed that people who value recycling and are in the habit of doing so will appreciate the borough’s participation in the service.

The dumpster is expected to be available in coming weeks.