Importance of Glass Recycling
Reduce, reuse, recycle.
We’ve all heard the 3Rs of waste management as alternatives to tossing materials in the trash, but why is glass recycling so important in particular?
Recycling glass material is just one way you can make a difference for our planet: it reduces pollution, protects the environment, and is infinitely recyclable.
Here at WasteNot, we aim to make recycling glass simple and easy for every recycler out there in Chicagoland.
What is glass recycling?
Glass recycling is simply making glass materials into new glass products. Glass is an infinitely recyclable material, so recycling glass separately ensures a 100% recyclable resource is kept out of landfills. It is made from materials like sand and broken down pieces of recycled glass known as cullet. This cullet is melted down and mixed with raw materials to create new glass products—the more cullet used, the less raw materials are needed!
Recycling glass separately is crucial to the recycling process as a whole. Nationally, only 40% of glass that is put into single-stream recycling bins actually ends up being recycled properly. This is because there are higher contamination rates when all recyclables are mixed together, and so the quality of the materials decreases. Glass in particular can contaminate other materials when it breaks. By separating your glass from other recyclables, you are reducing this contamination so your materials can actually be recycled!
Combining its natural properties with the ease of recycling, glass is the perfect material to recycle again and again.
Benefits of glass recycling
100% recyclable: Glass is infinitely recyclable without affecting its quality. Recycling glass separately ensures a 100% recyclable resource is kept out of landfills.
Reduces consumption of raw materials: Recycled glass can be substituted for up to 95% of raw materials when producing new glass products. Over a ton of natural resources are conserved for every ton of glass recycled (including sand, soda ash, and limestone).
Reduces pollution: Recycling glass cuts water pollution by 50% & reduces air pollution by 20% compared to making new glass!
Saves energy: Making products from recycled glass consumes 40% less energy than making new glass. Cullet melts at a lower temperature, so less energy is needed to melt it. Reducing energy use also reduces emissions.
Minimizes contamination: Nationally, only 40% of glass that is put into single-stream recycling bins actually ends up being recycled properly. Separating glass from other recyclables reduces contamination, creating higher quality materials and products.
What Glass Can Be Recycled?
WasteNot is able to recycle almost all kinds of household glass products, though there are a few types that are not recyclable. Check our list here if you’re unsure.
And believe it or not, you can leave the lids and labels on!
Looking to begin recycling? To learn more about glass recycling services through WasteNot, check out this page.
