Post-industrial by-products are leftover waste materials that would normally be land-filled, incinerated or otherwise disposed. Typical post-industrial by-products include: broken glass, steel shavings, plastic bits and fabric scraps.

Post-consumer by-products is garbage that individuals routinely discard in landfills, including paper, cardboard, plastic and glass.

Construction by-products are scrap building materials such as packaging, masonry, wood, steel, plastic or stone.

Glass is 100% recyclable. Over 30% of the raw material used in glass production now comes from recycled glass. One ton of recycled glass saves two cubic yards of landfill space. Even the energy saved from recycling a single glass bottle is enough to light a 100 watt bulb for 4 hours.

"The City Commission has adopted a planning and performance measurement process…measuring achievement of outcomes in relation to sustainability principles called the triple bottom line - economic prosperity, environmental and social equity." Honorable George K. Heartwell, Mayor, City of Grand Rapids

...Grand Rapids is one of only 41 cities in the nation doing this advanced work of economic, social equity and environmental sustainability. Kent Portney, National Sustainability Guru, Tufts University