A dumpster to collect glass for recycling is available at Harrison Hills Park through sundown Thursday.

Allegheny County is partnering for the second consecutive year with the Pennsylvania Resources Council to offer the Traveling Glass Recycling Bin program in parks throughout the region on a rotating schedule.

Up next, collections are scheduled at Settlers Cabin Park and Boyce Park among others.

At Harrison Hills, the blue container is located along Chipmunk Drive, near the park’s environmental center. It is open from 7 a.m. to dusk each day.

People can drop off glass bottles, jars and jugs of all colors, except white.

No color sorting is required, said Ashley DiGregorio, PRC recycling markets and grants manager.

“From the phone calls we receive, a lot of people like the collections because they are losing curbside recycling for glass in their area,” she said.

DiGregorio said the program is also important because the quality of recycling increases when glass is collected separately from other materials.

“When you collect glass on its own, it is between 98% and 100% recyclable,” she said.

Last year, participants deposited a little more than a ton of glass during the six days the bin sat at Harrison Hills – which seems like a lot – but DiGregorio said it wasn’t nearly as much as in other areas.

“Believe it or not, we can collect up to six tons in a week,” she said. “Run, don’t walk! There’s space for you.”

The bin is open to anyone in the county, not just Harrison residents.

Items not accepted include household dishes, antiques or glass that is part of furniture.

Containers should be empty and rinsed, but can have lids and labels.

Last year through the county park events, there were 10.2 tons of glass recycled, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 0.29 tons, according to the PRC.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said glass recycling continues to be of high interest for residents and that he’s pleased to help provide the service at county parks.

“We know that glass bottles and jars are 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without losing any quality, making the effort to put these items back into the recycling ecosystem even more important,” he said.

In May, the bin will be at the Wave Pool parking lot in Settlers Cabin Park. It will be open from 7 a.m. to dusk May 14-19. It will be at Boyce Park from June 18-23 at the ski lodge parking lot.

For more information, visit prc.org.

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