{"id":1214,"date":"2024-06-26T10:46:54","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T10:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/friendsofglass.com\/?page_id=1214"},"modified":"2025-07-02T12:22:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T12:22:04","slug":"recycle-glass","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/friendsofglass.com\/take-action\/recycle-glass\/","title":{"rendered":"Recycle glass\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\n

Take action<\/p>\r\n

Recycle glass<\/h1>\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
<\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\n

What glass can you recycle?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

More people than ever are recycling and we couldn\u2019t be happier \u2013 as the glass industry, we love to be able to use recycled glass when we manufacture new containers. However, not all varieties can be used in production.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, in this post, we will explain why not all glass is recyclable and what types of glass you can and cannot recycle. That way, the next time you need to dispose of your containers, you\u2019ll know exactly what to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why should you recycle glass?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many benefits to recycling glass, some of which you might not know yet. For example, did you know that <\/span>average bottle is already made with 52% of recycled content<\/span><\/a>?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Glass is a recyclable material made from ingredients found in nature \u2013 sand, soda ash and limestone \u2013 along with recycled glass. Making new containers from recycled glass not only saves on these raw materials, but also helps reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions (<\/span>UN Climate Technology Centre & Network<\/span><\/a>). And the best part? No matter how many times you recycle glass, it never loses its core priorities – making it a <\/span>permanent material<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recycling glass is a topical issue in modern societies all over the world, but it\u2019s nothing new: glass packaging and its recycling has been an integral component of human lifestyles for millennia. Historical and archaeological evidence demonstrates that even in antiquity, glassworkers were already collecting and reprocessing broken glass into new consumer goods. Looking to the modern era, the current collection schemes in Europe have been in place for over fifty years. They are based on an extensive network of bottle banks and kerbside collection systems spread across the continent. It\u2019s a system that allows us to <\/span>collect an average of 80.1% of glass in Europe<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n

But i<\/span>s all glass recyclable? <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

In short, no. While most glass containers can typically be recycled in a bottle-to-bottle loop system, not all varieties can be collected for recycling. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are diverse types of glass, with many different treatments applied to them. Your local municipality\u2019s rules for what you can and can\u2019t put into household recycling might seem fussy on first glance \u2013 but while bottles might look all the same, they can have significant differences and create problems if unsuitable glass is mixed with packaging for re-melt. And the difficulty is that, like us, most equipment that sorts these materials at recycling centres can struggle to tell the difference.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why can\u2019t all glass be recycled?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

After being collected, glass is sent to recycling facilities where it is first crushed <\/span><\/a>and prepared for re-melting \u2013 transforming it into cullet..<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are two types of cullet: internal and external. Internal cullet comes from defective products right off the assembly line that failed quality control tests. External cullet is the waste glass that has been collected to be recycled. Generally, when we use the word cullet, we mean the external types of glass we can recycle.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But to recycle glass, it has to be purified and cleaned of contamination. It is then re-melted in large furnaces. Any small contaminant, such as the heat-resistant treatment found in Pyrex items, can impact the process due to different melting temperatures and potentially ruin a whole batch of freshly recycled glass.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That is also why, depending on your local community, you might be asked to <\/span>separate the colours of the glass<\/span><\/a>. Typically, glass products are clear, green or amber. To make those colours, different substances and minerals are added in the initial production. So, when they are recycled, they need to be kept to the same colours to avoid contamination.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing the answer to the question \u201cwhat glass can you recycle?\u201d might seem confusing at first, but these handy tips will help you figure out which types of glass you can and cannot recycle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n \r\n

\r\n
\r\n

Types of glass you can recycle <\/h2>\r\n

Although it might depend on\u202fwhere\u202fyou live\u202fand\u202fwhat the local\u202frecycling policy\u202fis,\u202fmost\u202fglass\u202fitems in your day-to-day life can be recyclable.\u202fTo properly dispose of your\u202fcontainers, separate the lids and corks from the jars and rinse them before placing them in the recycling bin. You can also check\u202fout our previous article for\u202fmore\u202f tips on how to raise your recycling game. <\/a> Here\u2019s a list\u202fof the most common collection types:<\/p>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\"types-glass-recycle-bottles\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

<\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Bottles of any colour (soft drinks, juices, water, wine, beer, spirits, food sauces and olive oil) <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"types-glass-recycle-jars\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

<\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Jars of any colour (food, jam, sauces, condiments, baby food, etc.)\u202f <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"types-glass-recycle-flacons\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

<\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Cosmetics and perfume containers \u2013 also known as flacons <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"types-glass-recycle-pharmaceutical\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

<\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Pharmaceutical packaging or vials <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\n\n

\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n

Types of glass you cannot recycle <\/h2>\r\n

Sadly, not all items can be recycled with your everyday jars and bottles. Don\u2019t be a \u2018wishcycler!\u2019 It\u2019s important to avoid \u2018wishcycling\u2019, where we toss non-recyclable items into the recycling bin in the hope that they will somehow be recycled anyway \u2013 they won\u2019t be recycled, and they may even damage the equipment or contaminate the whole batch. The following are examples of common glass items you cannot recycle: <\/p>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\"glass-cant-recycle-nail-polish\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

Nail varnish bottles <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

These are not normally accepted with bottles and jars. While the glass might be the right type, nail varnish contains chemicals which might not be compatible with the recycling equipment in your area. In some cases, if you clean it out thoroughly using nail polish remover, you can recycle the glass part of the bottle (not the lid\/brush) \u2013 if in doubt, check with your local recycling facilities or municipality <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"glass-cant-recycle-cookware\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

Glass cookware<\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

e.g. heatproof jugs, Pyrex dishes, and microwave turntables) These are made from borosilicate \u2013 a special type of glass that withstands temperature changes. But it won\u2019t melt properly in most ordinary furnaces and can cause serious problems in the production.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"glass-cant-recycle-light-bulbs\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

Light bulbs<\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

These are made of a heatproof glass, are often coated with special substances and may contain metallic components. All of this can cause problems if they\u2019re re-melted with other types of glass. <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"glass-cant-recycle-windows\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

Window glass <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Glazing is often laminated or has been treated to make it tougher \u2013 and so it needs to be processed separately from other glass types if it\u2019s re-melted. Panes of window glass can often be recycled via separate collections at local recycling sites. <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"glass-cant-recycle-drinking-glass-vases\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

Drinking glasses and vases<\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Some of these have a different composition to ordinary bottles and jars. They may even be made of lead crystal. These glass types will cause problems and wastage in new glass if they get mixed into household recycling. <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"glass-cant-recycle-mirror\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

Mirrors <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

The metallic coating on mirrors will cause contamination if it\u2019s mixed with other glass types. However, many recycling sites do have a specific collection point for mirrors so that they can be properly processed separately. <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"glass-cant-recycle-mirror-2\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

Spectacles <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Don\u2019t put old sunglasses or spectacles in with your bottles and jars for recycling. They\u2019re not the same type of glass and have hard\u2013to\u2013remove metal components. <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n
\"glass-cant-recycle-crystal\"<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n

Crystal Glass <\/h3>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Crystal is usually shinier than glass <\/a> and is made from different minerals (such as lead-oxide, potassium carbonate, and silica), and therefore cannot be recycled together with jars and bottles. <\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

How to dispose of the glass that <\/span>can\u2019t<\/span> be recycled?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now\u202fthat\u202fyou know what\u202fglass\u202fyou\u202fcan and\u202fcannot\u202frecycle, you may be wondering:\u202fwhat\u202fdo\u202fyou do\u202fwith all the\u202fthings\u202fthat\u202fyou can\u2019t easily recycle?\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, the first step is to ask your local community for guidelines. They might have specific rules for you to follow concerning the types of glass you can\u2019t recycle. Once you\u2019ve done that, there are a few more things you can do with your glass products.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tying in with a\u202fconscious lifestyle,\u202fyou could try reusing\u202fyour containers\u202ffor other\u202fpurposes<\/a>, such\u202fas\u202fstorage or decoration.\u202fIf\u202fthey\u2019re not broken,\u202fyou can also donate\u202fglass\u202fitems such as cookware, mirrors and drinking glasses\u202fto charity shops,\u202ffamily and friends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

Tips for reusing glass<\/h3>\n

Visit our section on reusing glass to learn more about reuse and discover the best ideas for reusing your jars and bottles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get Inspired<\/a><\/p>\n

There are <\/span>also <\/span>plenty of ways to dispose of those hard-to<\/span>-r<\/span>ecycle<\/span> glass products. <\/span>Knowing\u202fwhat\u202f<\/span>types of <\/span>glass<\/span>\u202f<\/span>you can recycle will allow you to take that extra step towards protecting our planet. So next time <\/span>you\u2019re<\/span> thinking of clearing out the stemware cupboard or\u202fgetting\u202frid of a mirror, remember these little\u202ftips and tricks to keep <\/span>the recycling cycle going<\/span>!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n

\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n \r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n

Related posts<\/p>\r\n

<\/h2>\r\n <\/div>\r\n View all articles\n \n<\/svg><\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \"how-does-recycling-glass-help-protect-the-environment-300x167\" <\/a>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n Blog<\/a>\r\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg><\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

How does recycling glass help protect the environment?<\/a><\/h4>\r\n

Have you ever wondered how glass is recycled? What happens to your used glass after you\u2019ve put it into the bottle bank? The good news is that every single one of us can make a difference. <\/p> \r\n

\r\n\r\n<\/svg>4 min <\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \"how-are-retailers-rising-to-the-packaging-waste-challenge-300x167\" <\/a>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n Blog<\/a>\r\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg><\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

How are retailers rising to the packaging waste challenge?<\/a><\/h4>\r\n

Calling on all shoppers! You might think that how your favourite product is packaged is all about what brands choose to make and what we all want to buy. However, with us shoppers paying more attention than ever to the impact of our shopping choices, the retailers we make visits to everyday are becoming just as concerned with how our favourite products are packaged, helping us make easier, more sustainable choices.\n\nSo what choices are they making? You probably already know that, while disposable packaging is going out of fashion, endlessly recyclable glass is very much on trend. Well, that message is resonating with our favourite retailers, who are putting more and more glass packaging on their shelves in turn. As Carrefour\u2019s Sustainability Outreach Lead, Scarlett Elizee, says, \u201cwe also want to move away from single use and towards a recycling and reuse model that makes the most out of glass.\u201d Here\u2019s why.<\/p> \r\n

\r\n\r\n<\/svg>4 min <\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \"environment-banner-300x167\" <\/a>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n Blog<\/a>\r\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg><\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Request a bottle bank<\/a><\/h4>\r\n

If there are no bottle banks in your neighbourhood, you can write to your local authority to request one<\/p> \r\n

\r\n\r\n<\/svg>1 min <\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \"environment-banner-300x167\" <\/a>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n Blog<\/a>\r\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg><\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

Friends of Glass support Recycle Week<\/a><\/h4>\r\n

It\u2019s that time of year again as we celebrate recycling with Recycle Week and both Friends of Glass and British Glass are delighted to be supporting the campaign yet again.<\/p> \r\n

\r\n\r\n<\/svg>2 min <\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":1180,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1214","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRecycle glass\u00a0\u00a0 - friendsofglass<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n