Benefits of Recycling Glass
Recycling offers many benefits, ranging from saving money on waste costs to reduced waste and pollution in the environment. A wide range of items can be recycled, including plastic, tin cans, and glass bottles. Glass has a major benefit over other recyclable materials because it can be recycled over and over without any loss in purity or quality. Research shows that using recycled glass cuts energy costs about 2 to 3 percent for every 10 percent of recycled glass used. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
However, not all glass is created equally. If glass is used as packaging for food, beverages or cosmetics, then it is probably able to be recycled. Typically, colored glass is recyclable, such as wine bottles, beer bottles, and soft drink bottles. If glass is used as decoration, then it is probably not recyclable.
Is Glass Recycled in Florida?
Florida has a state goal of recycling 75 percent of all waste by 2020. In 2015, the state’s recycling rate was 54 percent. Only three Florida counties hit the 75 percent mark this past year. Despite the state’s push for higher recycling rates, glass, which can often be recycled, ends up in Florida landfills, even when placed in recycle bins. There are two main reasons for this:
First, contaminated glass cannot be effectively recycled. In Broward County, all recyclables are dumped into the same recycling bin. Though this was done to make recycling easier, this method often leads to contamination. It is estimated that up to 30 percent of recycling in the county ends up in the landfill because of this issue. Though Palm Beach County residents sort their recycling into different containers, food and other contaminates still has an effect, leading to an estimated 11 percent of recyclable materials being thrown out.
Second, it is often not economically beneficial to recycle glass. Ana Wood, Polk County’s director for waste and recycling, stated that none of the glass the county accepts as “recycling” is being recycled because “no one wants it.” Trends in the market have had a detrimental effect on glass recycling, as the demand for recycled glass is at an all time low. Unlike metal, which skyrocketed in price a few years ago leading to an increase in recycling and even thievery, glass demand has been on a steady decline and is considered relatively worthless. The only real push for glass recycling has come from environmentalists.
Florida is not the only state that fails to recycle glass. In fact, only ten states in the USA currently recycle glass, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Vermont. This is not due to profitability, but because of bottle-deposit laws. The Florida legislature previously toyed with the idea of passing a bottle-deposit law in the 1970s and again in recent years, but has not done so. As a result, people are not required to recycle these materials. There is no profitability in glass recycling, so even when residents do toss a glass bottle in their recycling bin, it likely ends up in the landfill anyway.
If you’re looking to see how your company can recycle more efficiently, contact us and Global Trash Solutions can evaluate your waste to help you save on costs and your environmental footprint.
FAQs
If glass is used as packaging for food, beverages or cosmetics, then it is probably able to be recycled. Typically, colored glass is recyclable, such as wine bottles, beer bottles, and soft drink bottles. If glass is used as decoration, then it is probably not recyclable.
How do you recycle glass in Florida? ›
Best Option
Put this item in your recycling cart. Do not overfill your cart. Place overflow in a separate box for your next scheduled pick up. Carts may be placed curbside between the hours of 5 p.m. the night before the scheduled day of collection and 6 a.m. on the day of collection.
How can we reduce glass garbage? ›
One of the easiest ways to reduce glass waste is to reuse glass bottles and jars in creative ways. Homes and businesses can extend the life of bottles and jars of various shapes, sizes, and colours. It saves on the energy required for recycling and creates a usable item for less.
How much glass is recycled globally? ›
The glass industry recycles around 27 million metric tons worldwide each year. If a glass bottle ends up in landfill it could take up to one million years to degrade.
How do you deal with glass waste? ›
Glass waste, whether it is broken or intact, must be cleaned before disposal into an appropriate glass waste container. Glass waste containers are typically the labeled broken glass boxes available from laboratory vendors but a sturdy, labeled cardboard box with a plastic liner and sealable lid is also appropriate.
Why is glass not recycled in Florida? ›
This is not due to profitability, but because of bottle-deposit laws. The Florida legislature previously toyed with the idea of passing a bottle-deposit law in the 1970s and again in recent years, but has not done so. As a result, people are not required to recycle these materials.
Does the state of Florida recycle glass? ›
Division of Waste Management Quick Links
The recycling program shall be designed to recover a significant portion of at least four of the following materials from the solid waste stream prior to final disposal: newspaper, aluminum cans, steel cans, glass, plastic bottles, cardboard, office paper and yard trash.
What is the best method of recycling glass? ›
Idea for a recycling project
The broken pieces are crushed, sorted, cleaned, and prepared to be mixed with other raw materials like soda ash and sand. The raw materials and glass pieces are melted in a furnace and then shaped into moulds to make new bottles of different colours and sizes.
Why is glass not being recycled anymore? ›
Glass breaks and contaminates other recyclables making them unusable (less revenue) or requires more cleaning and sorting (add cost, less profit). This makes the economics of recycling glass not viable as a business.
What are the challenges in glass recycling? ›
The main challenge facing glass recycling lies in the sorting stage. The single stream recycling process mixes up all forms of waste products. Contaminated glass and broken pieces mixed up with other waste becomes difficult to sort out, and recyclers end up emptying them in landfills.
Glass is an ideal recyclable material for both manufacturers and consumers. On the production side, it's manufactured with three natural ingredients—sand, limestone, and soda ash, plus an all-important fourth: recycled glass crushed into a granular state known as cullet.
Do we actually recycle glass? ›
Glass can be recycled endlessly by crushing, blending, and melting it together with sand and other starting materials. Doing so benefits manufacturers, the environment, and consumers. Yet each year only one-third of the roughly 10 million metric tons of glass that Americans throw away is recycled.
Can glass be recycled 100%? ›
Glass is 100% recyclable and can be endlessly recycled with no loss of quality. New glass is made from four main ingredients: sand, soda ash, limestone and other additives for colour or special treatments.
Why glass waste is bad for the environment? ›
The biggest environmental impact from glass comes from making the stuff. Melting the raw materials down produces Carbon Dioxide as well as Nitrogen Oxides, a contributor to smog. Moreover, other environmental concerns of glassmaking are water pollution and the use of non-renewable materials such as sand and minerals.
Can I put broken glass in the recycle bin? ›
It presents a potential hazard for you and for waste handlers, so dispose of it in the garbage too. As with unconventional glass, wrap the fragments in paper and seal them tight if you use plastic bags. The bottom line is that recycling companies do not accept broken container glass.
Can I put glass bottles in recycling bin? ›
You can recycle: glass bottles and jars. plastic bottles, tubs and trays unless it's black plastic. tins, cans and empty aerosol cans.
How do you collect glass for recycling? ›
How to recycle glass. Most local authorities collect glass bottles and jars in their household collections. They can also be dropped off at bottle banks. Most people recycle their glass, however there is still more we can all do, such as remembering to recycle our clear glass jars which are often forgotten.
Can you recycle glass for money? ›
Plastic and Glass Bottles
Many governments have implemented deposit return recycling programs that attach cash values to bottles based on the material they're made of. Returning glass and plastic bottles to recycling facilities and stores where they offer bottle return can net you a decent amount of coin.
