Since expanding its glass recycling collection into Dalton in December, Chattanooga-based Overlooked Materials has averaged about 1,500 pounds per pickup, said CEO Morgan Holl.
“People have been really receptive,” he said. “The businesses we are working with have been very cooperative.”
Overlooked launched glass recycling operations last July, starting with curbside collection services for residents and businesses in Chattanooga, East Ridge, Hixson, Lookout Mountain, Red Bank and Signal Mountain in Tennessee.
“Dalton is really our first expansion outside the Chattanooga metro area,” Holl said. “North Georgia communities are particularly underserved with recycling services. In Whitfield County alone, over 95% of post-consumer glass, or nearly 4,000 tons, ends up in a landfill each year, and that is despite the presence of several convenience drop-off centers in the area. The feedback we get from our customers is overwhelmingly positive.”
Dalton native Zac Long has been spearheading the company’s push into the Dalton area.
Several local businesses have already signed up for Overlooked’s services, including The Carpentry Hotel, The Oakwood Cafe and Cherokee Brewing + Pizza Co., which are all owned by businessman Kasey Carpenter.
“I am a big fan of recycling,” said Carpenter, who is also a state representatve. “I truly believe as a society we are not pricing the true cost of filling up a landfill with trash. If you look at Japan, I think they recycle almost 97% of their trash. Obviously, I would rather it be a private sector decision rather than a government mandate.”
“So, when I was approached with the idea, our companies were thrilled to subsidize such a process,” Carpenter said. “I think our customers appreciate it, and we are thrilled to be part of it.”
Overlooked not only serves retail businesses but also multifamily housing.
“Employees in the hospitality industry value recycling,” said Holl. “Patrons of bars, restaurants and hotels love to learn that their favorite establishments recycle their glass. And, residents of multifamily developments and apartments consider on-site recycling an amenity.”
Holl said it isn’t economical to serve all of Whitfield County, but the company does serve the city of Dalton and the commercial corridor of Cleveland Highway up to Varnell.
“I’m thrilled to see Overlooked Materials stepping up to address the need for glass recycling for businesses and multifamily properties in our community,” said Amy Hartline, recycling and education program coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. “While we manage curbside collection, convenience centers and paper and cardboard recycling for businesses, the infrastructure needed for successful glass recycling has been a significant gap. Having a new option like this makes it easier to divert valuable materials from landfills and helps us build a more sustainable future in Dalton. This kind of innovation and collaboration is a win for both our local and global environment.”
Holl said the company plans to host educational opportunities for its customers and for those interested in its services to show them more about the process of how it recycles glass and how the recycled product is used.
To find out more about the company, go to https://overlookedmaterials.com.