Much of the glass that metro Atlanta residents try to recycle is increasingly ending up in the trash.

Recycling companies often don't want glass because it can damage more valuable items, like cardboard and paper.

And as local governments have encouraged residents to pile all their recyclables in one bin, the cost of sorting materials has gone up.

Every county in the core Atlanta area works with companies that reject glass, though residents can still recycle glass at several locations.

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Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com