Can You Recycle Glass? Not All Types Are Recyclable

You grab a used glass bottle and are about to throw it into the garbage bin. But this thought holds you back: are glass bottles recyclable? You are not alone! If you ask us, we’d say glass is recyclable and trash at the same time. Keep reading as we address this question in detail!

In this article:

Is Glass Recyclable?

Not all types of glass can be recycled. Bottles and jars of any color, eyeglasses, and clear glass used in containers are recyclable. However, frosted glass, Pyrex, plates, oven-safe dishes, mirrors, windows, light bulbs, and ceramics can’t go into the recycling process.

The reason is that these items contain contaminants and might have different melting points. So, they might not be a good fit for mainstream processing plants.

Jars, bottles, and container glass will be collected and recycled by authorities. Meanwhile, eyeglasses are usually recycled by their own manufacturers. Similarly, windshields (laminated glass) can be processed by some laminated recyclers.

There’s no recycling process for Pyrex due to its manufacturing process. These products were treated to resist high temperatures, making them incompatible with the cullet stage.

Light bulbs are marked as hazardous waste, though some stores, like Lowe’s, offer recycling programs for these products.

That said, broken glass of any product is considered trash and won’t be recycled, as processing it can be dangerous for workers.

Why Recycling Glass?

Besides saving raw materials, recycling glass has a greater impact on the environment than we think. According to Feve, a 10% increase in cullet (recycled glass) translates to a 5% drop in carbon dioxide emissions and a 3% decrease in energy used.

A staggering fact is that if glass goes to the landfill, it will take over 4,000 years to completely decompose. Considering the sheer volume of glass we use, imagine the carbon footprint it leaves behind. So, recycling glass is a major step in mitigating the greenhouse effect.

Another benefit is its contribution to employment. If 100,000 tons of glass is recycled, 500 new jobs will be created.

From Junk To Joy: How Is Glass Recycled?

Recycling glass is a bottle-to-bottle loop.

First, used glass products will be collected from your households or business sites. They will then be transported to a treatment facility.

These items can’t be directly melted and reproduced because each type has different melting points and chemical composition. So, a sorting process is essential.

The workers will first remove obvious contaminants like plastics or metals. Then, they will classify the glass into different types, such as Pyrex, bottles & jars, and other special items.

Glass will also be grouped in colors, like clear, amber, brown, etc. The coloring process requires extra minerals and substances. Thus, separating them prevents cross-contamination among them.

Once the sorting process is done, the glass will be crushed and cleaned (also called the cullet stage). Finally, the workers will melt it down and reform it into different products.

5+ Ideas To Reuse Glass

In Households

Food Storage

What can be better containers than bottles and jars? You can store honey, jams, peanut butter, custard, cookies, pickles, spices, or anything you can think of in a jar. A practical tip is to keep tiny, easy-to-lose items like push pins, nails, paperclips, hair clips, etc., in a jar. You will never have to ask: “Where’s my hair clip?” again.

Meanwhile, bottles make perfect glass containers for beverages (milk, water, kombucha, juice, etc.), liquid ingredients (oil, vinegar, sauces, syrups, etc.), and other household items (cleaning solutions, detergents, liquid soaps, etc.)

Gardening

Here are some ideas you can try:

Sow seeds of flowers or vegetables in a lidless jar to start seedlings.
Separate garden beds by lining bottles around them
Mosaic broken glass on your garden path or hang empty bottles on greenhouses to add a decorative touch.
Fill a bottle with water, flip it upside down, and insert it into the soil for a slow-releasing watering system.

DIY Decoration

Glass milk, wine, or beer bottles can be repurposed into vases or light fixtures. Or, a little effort will transform those empty bottles into centerpieces. Just paint or customize them in your own way.

Art Projects

This is when you can unleash your creativity. Give those used glass jars and bottles a new life by turning them into toys, maracas, or artwork.

In Businesses

You can use jars and bottles to hold pens, paperclips, staplers, scissors, or other office supplies.
Donate old glassware to community organizations or charities.
Put glass recycling bins in your office. Then, glass recycling facilities will take care of the rest.

Wrapping Up

Basically, most household glass items are recyclable. You can either repurpose them or let them go to a recycling plant by sorting them correctly. However, remember that some products, like window glass, Pyrex, light bulbs, or ovenware, can’t be recycled. It’s best to handle them with care.