Miami County Recycles

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:

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