There are two new glass recycling stations in Oak Harbor. One was moved from behind the BBQ Joint to Office Max on the corner of Highway 20 and Seventh Avenue, which makes it more visible, and a new set was recently installed at the Oak Harbor Marina just off Pioneer Way.

“These new locations provide easier access for recycling glass,” said Maribeth Crandell, the city’s environmental educator.

There are now four glass recycling stations in Oak Harbor, including those front of Albertson’s and at Island County’s recycling station at 3151 Oak Harbor Rd., and the new stations mentioned above. Whidbey Island Naval Air Station also recycles glass if you have access to the Navy base.

“Glass is a problem for recyclers. It’s not worth much on the recycling market,” Crandell said. “It’s heavy and therefore costly to transport. And glass can break. The broken shards get caught in the recycling equipment and can shut the whole system down. So Island County separates its class from other recyclables. We also sort it by color, clear, green and brown.”

Crandell said the good thing about recycling glass is that it can be used over and over again. Unlike paper which needs new material added to the recycled content in order to hold up, glass doesn’t degrade with each cycle.

“It’s worth the trouble to keep it separate, and bring it to one of these convenient locations for recycling,” Crandell said.