-PROGRAM BACKGROUND-

The USVI Glass Recovery project was funded through the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands through the Island Spirits Fund with additional funding support provided by The Ocean Conservancy. This project builds from marine debris research and citizen science efforts that have been coordinated throughout the USVI such as the annual Coastweeks and Great Mangrove Cleanups. Data from these efforts have identified beverage bottles (both plastic and glass) as being the most prevalent debris type found along our coastlines and mangrove shorelines. Using this data, this project aims to recycle glass beverage bottles by crushing them back into sand and glass cullets that will be used primarily for the purpose of filling sandbags and other industrial applications such as concrete and asphalt aggregate mixing. 

-PROGRAM LOGISTICS- 

 
Click this image to learn more about the GL-Sand machine produced by Expleco Limited. 

OVER 5,000 GLASS BOTTLES CRUSHED	OVER 150 SANDBAGS PRODUCED

Glass bottles should follow the below guidelines to be accepted:

• GL-Sand crushers can only be used to crush glass beverage bottles (NO JARS). Vinegar bottles, oil bottles, beauty products, etc. will not be accepted.
• Glass bottles must not be broken, ALL caps and plastic/metal rings (usually found on the neck of the bottle) should be removed; plastic and paper labels can be left on  (foil labels around the neck of the wine bottle should be removed), and nothing should be stuck inside the bottle (like cigarette butts).
• Glass bottles should not be larger than 750ml in volume and should not contain any liquids. Please clean your bottles prior to drop-off. 

• Glass Collection Guidelines - Please use this fact sheet if you are unsure if your glass beverage bottle meets our criteria for crushing. 

• General Inquiry Form - Please use this form to volunteer, pick up sandbags, or schedule a glass dropoff.

-COMMUNITY PARTNERS- 

Our USVI Glass Recovery Program has collaborated with the following community partners to expand our reach throughout the USVI. Please note that not all locations are accepting glass at this time; once they are capable of accepting glass, their information will be updated on this webpage.

-RESOURCES-

• NEWS: Project Launch / Community Glass Collections

• FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

-ADDITIONAL INFORMATION-

• Solid Waste Integration Management Plan / Sand Safety Sheet / 2009 USVI Waste Characterization Study 
  

• DATA: USVI Glass Recovery Data  

- Contact Us-   

Office Phone: St. Thomas (340) 693-1672 
E-mail: St. Thomas (howard.forbes@live.uvi.edu) 
Website: http://vimas.uvi.edu
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Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service
Center for Marine and Environmental Studies
University of the Virgin Islands

St. Thomas                                                
#2 John Brewers Bay                                 
St. Thomas, USVI 00802