Broward County Beach Demonstration Project: From Beers to Beaches

Broward County relies on its beaches to attract tourists but 21 of the 24 miles of Broward beaches are defined as critically eroded. The Broward County Office of Waste and Recycling Services processed approximately 15,000 tons of glass each year and is searching for beneficial use of this material. The Broward County Beach Demonstration Project is investigating the feasibility of using recycled glass to augment the shore protection program needs, specifically in areas of higher relative erosion (hotspots). The addition of glass cullet as emergency beach fill may extend the life of the shore protection project by nourishing these areas with smaller volumes of fill. This paper details investigations performed to date including a literature review, geotechnical investigation, biological analyses, public perception research, and abiotic testing and shows that glass cullet is a viable beach compatible material.