Centerville City is planning to offer glass recycling in the coming months. The dumpster will be located in the parking lot behind City Hall. 

Momentum Recycling will provide the dumpster to the city at a cost of $1,200 to $1,500  (which will include four locked bins for different types of glass) and signage and will charge $60 per pick up. Momentum will pick up the dumpsters when city officials inform them that they are full rather than on any set schedule, City Manager Brant Hanson told the city council.

“I think this is an easy way to give back and to show that government listens,” Hanson said.

City officials have informally supported the idea of glass recycling in Centerville for some time but were galvanized into taking action now due to a presentation by resident Allie Phelps at their Jan. 16 city council meeting, they said.

At that meeting Phelps shared that she had gathered more than 300 signatures from Centerville residents in support of a community glass recycling bin. She already takes her own glass to Momentum Recycling, she said. Phelps encouraged establishing good habits to save resources and prepare for the future.

Some council members seemed skeptical that there would be a good community response. In the past, former City Councilmember Bill Ince had bought a glass dumpster for his neighborhood but did not get a good response, City Councilmember Robyn Mecham said. 

However, Mecham and the other council members seemed convinced after Councilmember Spencer Summerhays shared a photo he had taken of the overflowing glass recycling area at the local Target. 

“They can't accommodate everything that people bring,” he said. “ I’ve got two bags of glass sitting on my Landing waiting to go somewhere.”

Summerhays also suggested the city consider partnering with Target or another local store.

City officials praised Phelps for her efforts.

“You have our full support and we are going to move forward with getting a drop-off location tentatively … at City Hall,” Hanson told Phelps who was in attendance at the meeting. “We’ve reached out to Momentum and we’ll start that process soon. So we really appreciate you participating in the process and making a recommendation and being diligent and passionate and dedicated.”

“Part of the reason I am supportive of it is because I feel like you, a resident put in enough time,” Mecham said. “I wish we had more active residents … She didn’t come in asking for anything other than to make a suggestion that is frankly good for our landfill and you know it was a really responsible right thought that she had.”

City officials are working out the details with Momentum Recycling representatives to coordinate when the dumpster will be placed at City Hall, City Manager Brant Hanson told the Centerville/Farmington Journal.