A local environmental group is turning trash into treasure, literally. Kick Glass H-Burg, a grassroots recycling initiative, is not only repurposing discarded glass bottles but also spearheading a broader mission for environmental conservation across the Pine Belt region.
The initiative, launched by the Piney Woods Conservation Group, aims to tackle waste head-on by transforming glass into usable sand and cleaning up local waterways. Shawn Harris, Board President of the conservation group, says their work is about more than just recycling.
“Our main program is Pine Belt Blueways,” Harris explained. “We want to pump out blue—meaning clean water and healthy environments—by partnering with the City of Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi Power, and other stakeholders.”
The group actively collects trash from local parks and rivers, ensuring that waste doesn’t disrupt local wildlife. Through these efforts, they divert materials from landfills and return them to the recycling stream. One of their most innovative solutions? A machine that crushes glass bottles into sand.
“This glass crusher takes discarded bottles and turns them into sand, which can be used for all kinds of conservation and sustainability projects,” Harris said.
But even the most dedicated local efforts need a broader network to maximize impact. Kick Glass H-Burg works in partnership with Glass Half Full, a New Orleans-based, for-profit glass recycling company that has been operating for several years.
“Even though Glass Half Full is a huge company, we wanted to do what they’re doing right here in Hattiesburg,” said Harris. “We can’t crush enough glass with our machine to make a real dent, but we can collect and send it to them—and get our community excited about recycling.”
Kick Glass H-Burg hopes to inspire long-term change by showing what’s possible when small communities take action.
As Harris puts it, “It’s about creating the buzz, making glass recycling accessible, and showing the people of Hattiesburg what’s possible when we work together for the environment.”
If you’re interested in contributing to the glass recycling chain or seeing some live action glass crushing, Kick Glass is hosting a drop off on September 11 at 301 Mobil Street here in Hattiesburg Mississippi.
