When NewfoundSand Glass Recycling Co-operative, a local recycling initiative in Newfoundland and Labrador, set out to tackle one of the province’s biggest environmental challenges—glass waste—they knew the journey would not be easy. As the only province in Canada without a dedicated glass recycling program, Newfoundland and Labrador was throwing away a valuable resource with every bottle and jar. This co-op saw an opportunity not only to solve a local problem but to create jobs, strengthen the community, and prove the power of the co-operative model.
Getting Started with Support from CDFC
Securing the $30,000 Co-operative Development Fund (CDF) loan was a turning point. The loan gave the co-op the credibility and capital it needed to move forward.
“The loan was instrumental in getting us started,” shared founding member Dave Saunders. “It showed people we had capital, gave us leverage to get an operating line of credit, and made it possible to actually begin running. Even funders who were unsure about co-ops could see we had skin in the game.”
With the funds, the co-op was able to purchase its first equipment, bring its portable recycling services into communities, and begin hosting glass collection events.
Breaking Ground: Growth and Recognition
Since receiving the loan in 2024, the co-op has grown from zero members to more than 150 strong, all while making a lasting impact:
- Diverted 4 metric tonnes of glass from landfills (imagine 10,000 pickle jars!)
- Recycled byproducts into community benefits, such as 300 lbs of sand shared with members for use in chicken bedding, garden mulch, and soil improvement
- Collaborated with local artists, including a potter who turned recycled glass into glaze for coffee mugs
Their innovation and sustainability efforts have not gone unnoticed—they won an Environmental Award from the Canadian Co-operative and Mutuals Council (CMC) and the City of Mount Pearl’s Best in Environment Award.
Looking to the Future
The co-op’s ambitions are big. As Dave put it: “World domination.” While said with a smile, their vision is serious: scaling up glass recycling solutions for the Avalon Peninsula, then across the province, and maybe across Canada.
By leasing and revitalizing an old fishing plant—once the community’s largest employer—they hope to bring new life to the local economy, provide jobs, and fill the void left behind by traditional industries.
More Than Recycling
At its core, this co-op is about more than just glass. It’s about education, community, and co-operative values. They are showing that recycling can truly create new products, not just feed into “greenwashing.” They are demonstrating how co-operatives can succeed where profit-driven models fall short.
They are reimagining a sustainable future for Newfoundland and Labrador.
As members put it: “We’re not just solving a waste problem. We’re building community, creating jobs, and advancing the local economy—all while proving that the co-op model can lead real change.”
