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Recycling Glass

Where I live, they are currently rolling out a separate recycling bin for glass. I read the other day that some people are concerned about the changes. I thought it was a good opportunity to dispel some of the myths around glass recycling and explain why separating glass from the other materials collected through curbside recycling is important.

Here are some important points about glass recycling:

Not all glass can be recycled infinitely. Although standard glass can indeed be recycled infinitely, there are many types of glass that cannot be recycled at all. This is because the glass has been treated either through heat or with chemical additives. Often these treatments make the glass less likely to break, a good thing when it comes to wine glasses, for example, but this ultimately makes it a different type of material than standard glass. Glass items like drinking glasses, pyrex bakeware, and window glass will contaminate the standard glass. It may even result in it being sent to landfill.

Glass is a problem material when we mix things up. Glass poses significant challenges in curbside mixed recycling bins due to its tendency to break easily during collection and transportation. When glass shatters, the shards can become embedded in other recyclable materials like paper, cardboard, and plastics, making them difficult or impossible to recycle. The shards can also damage sorting machinery at recycling facilities, leading to increased maintenance costs and downtime. Additionally, the mixed collection of glass with other materials often results in lower-quality recycled glass, which may not be suitable for creating new glass products, ultimately reducing the overall effectiveness of the recycling process.

Here are my top tips for recycling glass at home.

• Check if your local curbside or other service accepts glass. If not, you might have access to a bottle bank or container deposit scheme.
• Check if they accept all colors of glass or only certain colors.
• Remember, most curbside services will only accept glass jars and bottles.
• Keep all other glass items out of your curbside recycling bin.
• If household items like drinking glasses, wine glasses, vases, pyrex bakeware, or ornaments are in good condition, please consider donating them for reuse.
• If you need a replacement item for your home, consider buying a second-hand item instead of a new one.

Here's some further reading on the subject:

• ​Glass recycling​
• ​The Importance of Glass Recycling: A Comprehensive Guide​
• ​What glass is made of?​
• ​Is Pyrex Recyclable? How to Dispose Of Old Baking Dishes​
• ​How many times can it be recycled?​
• ​What is a bottle bill and how do they work?​

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Want to become an expert recycler at home? Learn everything you need to know to put the right thing in the right bin by taking my Conquer Curbside Recycling Challenge.

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What I am reading and listening to

• ​World’s First Tethered PET Cap Already in Production​
• ​Computers To Coins – Royal Mint Opens Recycling Factory​
• ​Report: Brands likely to shift focus from PCR to emissions​
• ​(Un)covering the Global Recycling Industry​

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Catch up on your reading

Are Stickers Recyclable? The Truth About Recycling Your Favorite Decals Read article

How To Recycle Cardboard At Home Read article

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