Last year, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough recycled over 15,350 tonnes of glass. This may sound like a lot, but we know that glass makes up about 9% of our rubbish. That means that there was potentially 34,741 tonnes of glass that was buried in the ground instead of being recycled.

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 recycle again and again without loss of quality (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 sold at a lower price.
  • Recycling one glass bottle save 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 (British glass)

Recycling glass reduces the amount of waste glass that is buried in the ground. Why not recycle it!

What happens to my glass?

Glass from bottle banks and kerbside collections is sent to reprocessors and:

  • Contamination is removed
  • Crushed into bits (cullet)
  • Sorted by colour and more contaminants removed
  • Fed into a furnace (sometimes with some raw materials) and melted
  • The melted materials is then moulded or blown into new containers

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. But manufacturing plants became larger and the number of them decreased so the bottles had to be carried further for refilling. Eventually it cost 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) if you live in Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire or East Cambridgeshire, please use your kerbside collection box or take it to a glass recycling bank. If you live in Fenland District, Huntingdonshire or Peterborough, please use you local recycling banks. Find out more about your local service.

Q) Does sorting my glass into different coloured banks matter?

A) Yes. Pure white and brown glass is in short supply and is worth more than green glass. Separating it also keeps the good quality of materials.

Q) Do I have to clean my bottles and jars?

A) It is not essential but it will help to keep your recycling box and paper clean! To save water please rinse in the washing up water.

Q) Can I recycle the jars lids, screw caps and corks?

A) Jar lids cannot be recycled because they are made from several materials and not just metal. Screw caps from wine bottles can be recycled with cans and corks can be added to your home compost bin or compost kerbside collection.

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 collection. 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 Household Waste Recycling centres (HWRC'S) and must not put into glass banks or kerbside scheme.

Q) How can I recycle flat glass from windows?

A) There are currently no facilities for recycling this material.