Glass recycling event Saturday raises funds for nonprofit
Piles of recycled glass sit at Flathead Recon located at the Columbia Falls Industrial Park. The business has begun offering glass recycling on a limited basis as a fundraiser for nonprofits. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
The pulverizer at Flathead Recon turn the gravel into pieces ranging in size from sand to small gravel that can be used in landscaping or for sidewalks and roads. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A Flathead Valley business is looking to provide a service for those wanting to recycle glass locally, and support nonprofits at the same time.
Flathead Recon in Columbia Falls is hosting glass recycling events working with some local nonprofits.
Dave Fischlowitz, owner of Flathead Recon, came up with the concept after purchasing glass recycling equipment from New World Recycling, which closed last year. He knew there was a desire from many people who wanted to recycle their glass locally, but also knew it wasn’t a business model that was feasible on its own.
So Fischlowitz decided to incorporate the concept on a limited basis into his already established business that does demolition work and salvages building materials operating out of the Columbia Falls Industrial Park.
“There’s value in conserving landfill space especially with the speed of our growth,” he said. “I wanted to enliven the recycling culture, but also help a nonprofit through fundraising.”
The next benefit recycling day is Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to benefit the Kalispell Regional Healthcare Foundation. Recommended donations are between 20 and 25 cents per pound of glass with 80% going to the nonprofit and 20% going back to Flathead Recon.
Flathead Recon held its first glass recycling day in September to benefit Powdered Soul. During the one-day event, Fischlowitz says almost 5,000 pounds of glass was recycled from 70 households. That translated into a donation of $1,500 to the nonprofit.
The nonprofits supply the labor during the recycling events and are able to promote themselves during the collection day and also receive a monetary donation at the end.
“I enjoy being able to support the community,” Fischlowitz said. “This is not a money-maker for me.”
Fischlowitz says there’s a decent market for recycled glass that has been processed through the pulverizer. The glass pieces range from sand-size to small gravel with no sharp edges, and can be sorted by color.
Fischlowitz says the glass bits can be used for landscaping instead of mulch, for concrete finishers and in roads and sidewalk. When used in landscaping he says it holds moisture well and can be used for fire prevention efforts, he notes.
“There’s so many good uses for it,” Fischlowitz said. “If we’re able to really capture the glass recycling market then it could be used to go into roads and sidewalks. Gravel is a finite material, but glass from recycling could be used instead.”
He plans to eventually sell five gallon buckets of the recycled glass sorted for color and size.
Flathead Recon began taking glass for recycling in July from the Under the Big Sky Festival.
While they don’t have the ability to do curbside pickup, Fischlowitz says for now he’s able to handle contracted events, but eventually hopes to also expand to include some part-time drop off hours at the Columbia Falls Industrial Park.
For detailed directions and more information, visit www.flatheadrecon.com or email flatheadrecon@gmail.com.