On March 5, 2025, we will open the doors of the new headquarters of Glass Hub by ReciVeci, a project that was born in September 2024 to transform glass recovery in the central-north region of the country and that, one year after its creation, is transforming much more than glass recycling!
When we started this project, we couldn't imagine the impact it would have. Today we can say that it is much more than a collection center: it is an engine of social, environmental and economic change, and here we tell you why.
The challenge and benefit of glass recycling in Ecuador
Currently, there are 105,504 tons of glass bottles and containers in the country's market, of which barely 19% is recycled.* Among the main challenges of glass recycling in Ecuador are:
- Low purchase prices in the market, which demotivates recovery.
- Logistical Challenges in collection and transport, since glass is a heavy and bulky material.
- Lack of market dynamization, due to the same logistical difficulties and the little benefit versus the great effort involved in recovering it.
However, despite this, glass is a very noble material, it is very noble and can be recycled many times, 100%, and the carbon footprint is reduced when recycling, besides, recycling reduces the amount of waste that goes to the filling or landfill. It is a good material for storing liquids such as beers, etc. To face this reality, in September 2024, the Glass Hub was opened by ReciVeci, with the initiative and support of O-I Cridesa.
The social and environmental impact of the Glass Hub in its first year
Since the start of operations of the Glass Hub, we have achieved:
- 1000 tons of recovered glass containers, preventing them from ending up in landfills or landfills.
- More than 100 direct suppliers, 70 of whom are basic recyclers that did not recover glass before.
- Direct income of approximately $50 per month for 70 basic recyclers, representing a 30% increase in their monthly income.
This last point is something very important and one that we would like to stop and analyze: 70 basic waste pickers (whose average monthly income is less than half of a basic salary per month) receive approximately $50 more in income, just because the Glass Hub exists.
In a year of operations, every month, $3,000 in income for them is generated from this project! Achieving this has meant a lot to ReciVeci, especially at a time when we are questioning ourselves and we promote the concept of Just tons, which is why we are committed to continuing to strengthen this space.
How Does the Glass Hub Work?
The Hub operates under inclusive circular economy principles:
- Fair payment: We buy glass at prices that dignify the work of basic recyclers.
- Classification in recyclable (by color) and returnable glass: We do the work of separating recyclable and returnable containers, which contributes to the circular economy in the country (that is, the maximum use of resources already extracted from nature).
- Glass transformation: Reclaimed glass returns to production chains and is transformed into new jars and bottles.
- Data collection: At each stage, we generate data that we constantly analyze and that contribute to the reality of recycling in the country.
- Incentives for basic recyclers: We have implemented a prize system for recyclers who deliver larger volumes of glass and also for citizens committed to the responsible delivery of the material.
In the first year of operations, this Glass Hub has proved to be much more than a collection center for this material, and, at ReciVeci, we have the vision of continuing to amplify its social and environmental impact. So the doors of this center are open to all actors who want to be part of the inclusive circular economy in the country: academia, the private sector and the public sector, grassroots waste pickers, citizens, etc.
Do you want to know more? Schedule your visit to our new headquarters and be part of the change. Contact us:
Glass Hub by ReciVeci
Telephone: 099 700 0926
Email: hubdevidrio@reciveci.ec
Address: Calle Princesa Paccha S2 144 and Mama Ocllo (50 meters from the courts of the “Casa Tuya” residential area).
For many more years of growth of the Glass Hub, in favor of the inclusive circular economy!
