How Is Glass Recycled?

A 100% recyclable resource, glass can be endlessly reused time and time again without any noticeable loss in quality. In this helpful guide, we provide expert insight into how glass is recycled and why it’s so important we all play our part with this simple, highly effective recycling strategy.



Why Do We Recycle Glass?

Glass, as we now know, is a 100% recyclable resource; let’s be honest here, what other reason do we really need? Simply by reusing this vital resource, we can greatly reduce our reliance on raw materials, cut out carbon emissions and non-renewable fossil fuel usage and make important strides toward the future of our planet!

How Is Glass Recycled?

First, glass is mechanically sorted by colour, (i.e green glass bottles are separated from transparent varieties), before it is crushed, removing all contaminants in the process. Once this is complete, some raw materials are added into the mix; these include, sand, soda ash, limestone and a handful of other additives that may be required for colour or special treatments. Finally, the mixture is melted in an incredibly hot furnace, which is then blown and moulded into new glass bottles or other objects.

Through glass recycling, it’s believed we can save 1.2 tonnes of raw material for every one tonne of glass we reuse. In fact, for every tonne of glass recycled, roughly 580kg of CO2 is saved across the supply chain, with pollution reduced by 20% and water pollution cut by up to 50%. Of course, it's important to remember that any raw materials used in recycled glass must still be quarried, contributing to the planet’s CO2 emissions, but by greatly reducing the reliance on them in the production process, we can significantly shrink the quantities of raw materials we use by upwards of 95%.

How Is Recycled Glass Used?

At Henry Waste Skip Hire and House Clearance, we recycle up to 85% of all materials that come through our recycling centre, including paper, metal and of course, glass. Glass is one of the most recycled materials the world over and can be used for a number of purposes.

Below, we outline some of the most important applications for recycled glass:

●     New Glass Bottles & Jars

●     Glass Wool Insulation

●     Water Filtration Media

●     Aggregates & road Surfaces

●     Backfill foundations

●     Glass Tiles

●     Beads & Jewellery

Helping to reduce carbon emissions and greatly reduce our reliance on raw materials in the manufacturing process, recycling glass is simple, effective and hugely beneficial to the future of our planet.

If you’re looking for a greener waste disposal service, you can look no further than the experts at Henry Waste, Skip Hire and House Clearance. Based in Coatbridge, our dedicated team work tirelessly at our recycling centre, taking great care to separate all the rubbish we receive and ensure all materials can be recycled. we’ll ensure all your rubbish is carefully separated and recycled where possible, for your peace of mind. Contact us today.