Port of Kalama, Washington is the site for the first wine bottle glass plant in 30 years. Cameron Family Glass Packaging, Pittsburg, PA, recently closed a $109 million financing deal that will allow the company to break ground in June, 2007. Scheduled for startup in the last half of 2008, the 175,000 square foot facility will rely on a hydro-powered electric furnace, making it the largest eco-friendly wine bottle manufacturing facility in the world. Recycling will also be a top priority. Wine bottles will be made at least in part with cullet received from recycling programs in surrounding Washington and Oregon communities. The company will also recycle all water used during the glass making process. Washington State is home to more than 500 wineries, comprising a $3 billion industry that is second only to California in the US.
