Recycling Glass
In 2008/09, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough recycled over 16,400 tonnes of glass. This may sound like a lot, but studies by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) have shown that glass makes up about 7% of our household rubbish. This suggests that in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough we are sending over 10,000 tonnes of glass, which could be recycled, to land fill.
Glass facts
- Raw materials to produce glass (sand, soda ash and limestone) are cheap and abundant BUT require a lot of energy to make them into glass. Recycling can reduce the amount of raw material mined by 80%
- Glass can be recycled again and again without loss of quality (source: British glass)
- Different colours of glass have different market values. Clear glass has the highest value followed by brown and then green. That is why it is important that glass is sorted correctly, if not the whole load can be rejected and must be sold at a lower price
- Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to:
- Power a 100 watt bulb for an hour
- Power a computer for 25 minutes
- Power a colour TV for 20 minutes
- Power a washing machine for 10 minutes (source: British glass)
- An alternative use for glass from kerbside collections is crushing it for an aggregate for construction projects or filtrates in filter beds
- Recycling glass reduces the amount of waste glass that is buried in the ground
What happens to my glass?
Glass from bottle banks and kerbside collections is sent to reprocessors and:
- Contamination is removed
- Crushed into bits (called cullet)
- Sorted by colour and more contaminants removed
- Fed into a furnace (sometimes with some raw materials) and melted
- The melted material is then moulded or blown into shape
There is a lot of green glass in the UK from imported wine and beer bottles however; UK manufacturers demand more brown and clear glass. There is, therefore, a shortage of brown and white glass for recycling and a surplus of green! Because of this, alternatives have been found for recycling the green glass. Glass can now also be used for making:
- Golf bunker sand
- Glasphalt used for road surfacing
Years ago, we used to be able to take our bottles back to retailers. As manufacturing plants became larger and the number of them decreased, bottles had to be carried further for refilling. Eventually the costs were too much to continue and consumer preference turned to the convenience of the non-refillable plastic bottle.
Milk bottles are one of the few types of glass containers still reused. Supporting the local milk delivery service not only encourages the local market but is also an environmentally friendly packaging option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) How can I recycle my glass jars and bottles?
A) Go to your recycling scheme to find out how you can recycle glass in your area.
Q) Does sorting my glass into different coloured banks matter?
A) Yes. Clear and brown glass is in short supply and is worth more than green glass. Separating them means each load can be sold for its maximum value.
Q) Do I have to clean my bottles and jars?
A) It is not essential but it will help to keep your recycling bin or box clean! To save water please rinse in your used washing up water.
Q) Can I recycle jar lids, screw caps and corks?
A) You can recycle metal jar and screw caps through most local recycling collections. Please take them off the bottles and jars before putting in your recycling bin or box. Please check your recycling scheme for details.
Q) Isn’t driving to the recycling banks un-environmentally friendly?
A) It can be. To reduce travel and pollution you should combine your trip with another errand such as shopping, rather than making a special journey.
Q) How can I recycle pyrex and oven ware?
A) These must not be put into recycling banks or kerbside collections. Recycling glass involves melting the glass and ovenware is designed not to melt! The best thing to do is to clean it thoroughly and donate it to a charity shop for reuse.
Q) What should I do with fluorescent tubes and light bulbs?
A) These can be recycled through special facilities at our recycling centres and must not be put into glass banks or your kerbside collections.
Q) How can I recycle flat glass from windows?
A) There are currently no facilities for recycling this material.
