{"id":38,"date":"2022-05-16T12:32:36","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T19:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ollierecycles.com\/?page_id=38"},"modified":"2022-06-15T09:04:43","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T16:04:43","slug":"glass-recycling","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ollierecycles.com\/uk\/glass-recycling\/","title":{"rendered":"Glass Recycling in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UK has a known and consistent waste recycling track record, adopted by both public and independent recycling companies and the country\u2019s citizenry. In the 2021 WRAP Recycling Tracker Report<\/a>, nine in every ten UK households (88%) reported recycling as an established family practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"glass,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Glass stands out as one of the UK\u2019s most recycled materials. The 2021 UK Statistics on Waste<\/a> update shows that glass was the second-highest recycled material in the country, with a 75.8% recycle rate achievement and second only to metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This achievement is explained by an undeniably broader understanding of the positive environmental impact of waste glass reprocessing on our natural habitat and the global and national economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Benefits of Glass Recycling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The noteworthy recycling rate in the UK is a considerable contribution to the global environmental conservation efforts and the realisation of circular economy principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, glass recycling has the following benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Energy Saving<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The energy needed to create recycled glass products is less than what is used to make them from virgin raw materials. Precisely, every tonne of recycled glass saves energy of up to 42 Kwh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The low energy consumption is because the glass recycling process is more energy-preserving than making it from other raw materials. In addition, recycling saves us energy costs that would otherwise be used in harnessing virgin raw materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Lower Carbon Footprint<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The millions of tonnes of glass recycled in the UK every year save the globe loads of pollutants in carbon dioxide emissions. This is because the less energy-consuming process of recycling comes with a lower carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For every tonne of glass recycled, the atmosphere is saved from 246 kg (542 pounds) of released carbon dioxide. This carbon emission rate is much less than the levels produced in mining sand, the main ingredient in glass production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preservation of Raw Materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sand is the most traded natural resource after water and the most mined commodity<\/a>. As such, recycled glass (also called cullet) is a valuable alternative to freshly produced glass because it saves the natural landscape from the scars engraved by sand quarries. In addition, glass is infinitely recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without losing its original quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From an environmental impact perspective, all this means that glass is greener when recycled than when produced from new raw materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduction of Landfills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Landfills are a major waste disposal method in the UK. Each year, millions of tonnes of waste end up at landfill sites. This is also true in other countries like the US, where an estimated 28 billion glass jars and bottles end up in landfills each year, an amount equivalent to filling up two Empire State Buildings every 3 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although landfills have been on a gradual annual decrease in the UK, plenty still needs to be done. If the 90% collection rate proposed by British Glass<\/a> is achieved by 2030, it will significantly boost landfill reduction efforts. This considering that glass is non-biodegradable and a consistent environmental hazard for hundreds of years after its disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creation of Employment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reprocessing jars and bottles requires glass manufacturers to create new job roles. Labour force is needed in all the phases of the glass recycling system, including emptying glass at recycling banks and cleaning it at the treatment plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, one of the largest independent glass recycling companies, Glass Recycling UK<\/a>, has created over 70 jobs in their glass recycling depots all over the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Different Types of Glass that can be Recycled<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not every type of glass can be reprocessed or recycled. Whether a type of glass is recyclable mainly depends on the manufacturing processes and the purity of the glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recyclable glass items are made of soda-lime-silica<\/a>. The soda in these glass products lowers the temperatures at which they melt. They are also not contaminated with other chemicals and materials. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n