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Avoid Recycling Contamination at Home: Glass

Did you know that glass can be recycled infinitely without loosing its properties? That’s why it makes sense to want to put as much as possible in the curbside recycling bin.

It’s easy to believe that glass is glass no matter what. Reading our What Can I Recycle page, you will notice that any color of glass container is listed under the “Materials Accepted” section, while window glass is an unacceptable item. But what’s the difference?

Glass containers, including bottles, jars, and drinking glasses, are suitable for your curbside recycling bin. However, as the “How to Recycle Glass” page of the website Earth 911 explains, unacceptable glass, such as that in windows, mirrors and ovenware, is “treated with chemicals, so these items have different melting points.” As a result, the different types of glass can’t be processed for recycling together, and only glass containers are admitted at the local facility.

The Glass Packaging Institute provides several interesting facts about recycling glass, such as:

  • “Recycled glass containers are always needed because glass manufacturers require high-quality recycled container glass to meet market demands for new glass containers.”
  • “One ton of carbon dioxide is reduced for every six tons of recycled container glass used in the manufacturing process.”
  • “In 2013, 41.3% of beer and soft drink bottles were recovered for recycling, according to the U.S. EPA. Another 34.5% of wine and liquor bottles and 15% of food and other glass jars were recycled. In total, 34% of all glass containers were recycled, equivalent to taking 210,000 cars off the road each year.”

So, go ahead! Carefully place your glass containers in the curbside bin. Just be careful, as broken glass can be dangerous to sanitation workers.

And don’t give up on your old windows and mirrors. If they are still intact, send them to a local material reuse facility or project, such as the ReStore of the Habitat for Humanity of Miami and Shelby Counties, OH.


Posted on Dec 22, 2017 by Miami County Recycles