- In 2001, over 2.5 million tons of glass was landfilled. In a landfill, glass will take up to one million years to break down. The careless disposal of glass will rapidly fill our landfills with this non-biodegradable material. In addition, the manufacturing of glass requires extreme heat. This produces the dangerous greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. All of these problems caused by the manufacture and disposal of glass can be reduced by simply recycling this common material.
- Glass is made from sand, soda ash, and limestone. Iron, chromium, and/or cobalt are then added for color. Additional additives include lead, lumina, and boron. Glass is unique in that it can be recycled infinitely. Multiple trips through the recycling plant do not cause this material to lose any of its quality. During the recycling process, glass is crushed into a fine material called cullet. Cullet can then be melted down to create new glass products. Glass containers can be recycled at locations known as bottle banks, as well as through some curbside recycling programs. Search online to find the nearest location.
- There are many different types of glass, each with their own considerations in the recycling process. The most common, and most easily recycled type of glass, is container glass. This includes bottles and jars. These types of containers can be made from up to 80% recycled material. The second most common type of glass is flat glass, such as windows and windshields. Next is fiber glass. This is used in glass-reinforced cement and plastic, and can be much more difficult to recycle. Domestic glass includes items such as household ornaments. These are often better off being reused through a garage sale or Goodwill if the product is still good. Lastly is special glass, such as that used in TVs, computers, and medical equipment.
- 1.2 tons of raw materials will be saved for every ton of recycled glass that is used. Cullet uses 40% less energy than the production of raw glass. Remarkably, a glass container can go from the recycling bin the the shelf in less than 30 days. By recycling glass, we can reduce carbon emissions, save some of the earth's raw resources, such as limestone, and limit the amount of waste sent to landfills.
- When recycling your glass products, keep in mind that a little preparation can go a long way. You should first rinse and clean any glass containers. Next, it is important to remove any plastic, paper, or metal on the bottle. By taking these steps, you can ensure that your containers will not contaminate the entire bin of recycled glass. Glass should also be sorted by color into clear, green, and brown glass. Bottle bins are not for light bulbs or flat glass. These types of glass require a separate collection bin. You can find information and locations for recycling all types of glass through the links below.
