To help UK households get it right, the industry has compiled a list of some of the most common misconceptions about what can and cannot be recycled… Glass waste is significant, with families in the UK using around 330 glass bottles and jars a year. Yet as the percentage of glass recycled in Spain and the UK, for example, has doubled and tripled in the past 25 years, respectively, the numbers in the US have barely budged. It is often used for single use clear plastic bottles. A Europe-wide project is currently underway, which aims to make the recycling of this sort of glass economically viable, and thereby spread the practice. This amounts to a total of more than seven billion per year, but only about 30 per cent of these are recycled … * The FISSAC project is working to increase recycling of construction waste by partnering with the manufacturing, demolition and construction sectors to trial the use of secondary raw materials made from glass, ceramic, slags, stone, rubber, plastic and wood wastes. If you would like to receive updates about this project, and invitations to take part in research, focus groups and interviews here in the UK, email information@britglass.co.uk with your contact details and a few lines about your interest. British Glass is a partner in FISSAC* – a €9million European project to create economically viable sources of raw materials from industrial and construction waste. While you may think the recycling bin is the next step for your leftover glass, recycling colored glass is not as simple as one might think. We’re particularly keen to hear from and work with companies across Europe with interests in construction, demolition and recycling. For example the Vlakglas foundation, which operates a successful, nationwide flat glass recycling system in the Netherlands, collected 70,000 tonnes of cullet for re-melt in 2016. Read our Cookie policy (updated on 29 June 2018). Not all glass is the same. In the UK and Europe, however, the story is a little different. The waste recycling industry in the UK cannot consume all of the recycled container glass that will become available over the coming years, mainly due to the colour imbalance between that which is manufactured and that which is consumed. If you go through a lot of glass containers in your house, such as soda, beer or other glass beverage containers – or if you know others who buy a fair number of bottled beverages – this could be a good way for you to make some extra cash. The consumer throws glass into a recycle bin. Earn Recyclebank points by recycling and taking green actions and use points for rewards. Unfortunately, broken glass is generally NOT recyclable – check your municipality’s specific rules and requirements as it may differ –, for a number of reasons. Just as you can make money recycling aluminum cans, it is also possible to make money when you recycle glass bottles and jars as well.. We’ve been carrying out stakeholder interviews and compiling case studies to identify what has worked and might work. The FISSAC project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no 642154. Mouthwash bottles 4. All glass collected separately is brought back to our state of the art Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) for storage. Common glass items like glassware, windows, mirrors and picture frames present recycling issues. The waste recycling industry in the UK cannot consume all of the recycled container glass that will become available over the coming years, mainly due to the colour imbalance between that which is manufactured and that which is consumed. 1 – PET plastic is the most widely recycled. 9 Churchill Way, Chapeltown,  Glass manufacturers in the UK recycle almost 70% of all glass packaging sold, the majority of this figure is made up of glass bottle recycling. Collaboration and shared understanding between supply chain partners will be key to making flat glass recycling commercially viable. Enter your postocde below to find out if you can recycle glass bottles and jars at home. Getty Images. If you can safely break up the glass, wrap it carefully and dispose of in your local council’s kerbside residual bin. Glass can easily break during collection. Most glass then goes to a processor for further cleaning, sorting and crushing into “cullet.” This cullet is mixed with sand, soda … Lists the active, worldwide industry guidelines related to flat glass production and products as of August 2019. You now have until 12 noon on Friday 2 October to submit your glass focus entries. Glass bottles and jars can usually go in recycling bins, but it’s a bit harder to recycle most other glass, like drinking glasses and windows. What Glass Products Can Be Recycled?. This document gives useful links for the main hazards in glass manufacturing; the links are to HSE guidance, Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP) or British Glass guidance from H&S committees. Mixing glass hues diminishes the quality of the recycled product and, consequently, the ability to sell recycled glass in the future. Drinking glasses and Pyrex dishes. Take this extra time to nominate any people, products or initiatives that will help us celebrate glass as a material and the supply chain that supports it. The UK's leading cullet return scheme offered by Saint-Gobain Building Glass. We co-hosted an event with Zero Waste Scotland in October 2017 to discuss and share ideas for how a flat glass recovery network could operate in Scotland. Higher the Trust Mark, better the trust. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity. Glass bottles and jars are 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or quality. The consumer throws glass into a recycle bin. Through this we’re working to identify solutions to increase recycling of flat glass waste in Europe. The glass is then crushed and melted, then moulded into new products such as bottles and jars. This website uses cookies to help us give you the best experience when you visit our website. There is an EU target for the UK to recycle at least 50% of household waste by 2020. Paper and cardboard were the most recycled materials in 2017 at 79%, followed by metal at 71.3% and glass at 67.6%. Plastic Bottles 2. Glass is one of the first materials that has been widely recycled in the UK. For example, both Switzerland and Finland recycle more than 90% of their glass. Glass Facts. How is glass recycled? The recycling rate for WfH decreased in all UK countries except Northern Ireland in 2018. Entries for the Glass Focus Awards 2020 are now open with this year’s event featuring a virtual presentation ceremony, on Thursday 12 November. Successfully recycling flat glass is possible. General: Glass Scrap Buyers! GB 646 3416 36. We’re looking for bottles and building designs, outstanding apprentices, sustainable and safe practices and innovations from across the industry. Glass can be collected in bottle banks or as part of your kerbside collection. For these materials, much of the recycling is carried out in the UK. Greenhouse / sheet glass is not accepted in your local councils kerbside recycling bin, bag or box or at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. Glass is taken from the bin and taken to a glass treatment plant. Find out more at www.fissacproject.eu. Unlike glass bottles and jars, drinking glasses and … Yoghurt pots (check the plastic before recycling as some can be made from polystyrene) PET can be recycled into polyester fabric and filling for for fleeces, carpets and cushion fillings. British Glass is a partner in FISSAC* – a €9million European project to create economically viable sources of raw materials from industrial and construction waste. The Trust Mark for scrap buyers is an indication of the authenticity of the glass scrap buyer. Glass is one of the most sustainable materials on earth. There are materials like glass, paper and metal that can – at least in theory – be recycled indefinitely. Let’s start by looking at types of glass and discover why they need to be kept out of the blue bin. Find buyers for glass scrap across the globe. In order to be recycled, glass is collected, mixed, and then sorted by color — clear, green, and amber — at a materials recovery facility. Successfully recycling flat glass is possible. The glass is then crushed and melted, then moulded into new products such as bottles and jars. The glass you commonly see collected is what’s known as container glass or soda-lime glass. Glass does not degrade through the recycling process, so it can be recycled again and again. When broken glass mixes with paper and other containers, it becomes difficult to properly sort, and therefore recycle, these materials. Glass is made from readily-available domestic materials, such as sand, soda ash, limestone and “cullet,” the industry term for furnace-ready recycled glass. glass scrap buyers who are verified by RIM will have a “RIM Verified” Icon. Or it may be used for alternative purposes such as brick manufacture or decorative uses. The UK glass sector has an excellent recycling record of 68.8%, one of the highest rates of any packaging material. Dear Monika: Your drinking glasses may or may not be compatible for recycling with your other glass, so you might have to get creative with your repurposing. UK. Glass is taken from the bin and taken to a glass treatment plant. The first bottle bank was installed in 1977 in Barnsley and since then they have become ubiquitous in your household recycling centre as well as at supermarkets and in car parks. Following the statement from the Prime Minister on 23 March, we have taken the decision the close the British Glass offices until further notice. The UK recycling rate for Waste from Households (WfH; including IBA metal) was 45.0% in 2018, decreasing from 45.5% in 2017. The glass is then sent back to the shops ready to be used again. Using recycled glass has a direct and positive impact on the environment and the reduction of energy used in the glass manufacturing process; but collecting it efficiently can be a significant challenge. Fizzy pop bottles 3. 539065 / VAT No. Our periodic digest shows members the breadth of information we have added to the British Glass library collection in the preceding months. Where glass-to-glass recycling isn’t feasible, the FISSAC project is investigating using glass as an additive to cement and concrete – including full scientific analysis and testing of the materials and pilot builds. Despite this, not a lot is known about how recyclable different types of glasses are. Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours, power a computer for 30 minutes, or a tv for 20 minutes. Glass is a remarkable material made from quartz sand, soda ash and limestone. And national surveys show that Americans overwhelmingly favor glass recycling and deem it to be important. Glass is one of the most common materials found in just about any household. In the UK, Recycle Now lists 28 different recycling labels that can appear on packaging. The glass is sorted by colour and washed to remove any impurities. Lots of local authorities collect glass for recycling and bottle banks can be found in most areas. Glass is recycled widely in places around the UK, with kerbside collections and some 50,000 bottle banks dotted around the country capturing the 752,000 tonnes of glass that are recycled annually. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies. Tel: +44 (0) 114 290 1850 First things first, not all colors of glass can be recycled together. This was linked to a call for applications to the country’s £18 million Circular Economy Investment Fund. Deadline extended for Glass Focus Awards 2020, Entries are now open for the Glass Focus Awards 2020, COVID-19 Update: British Glass Offices Closed, Current standards August 2019 - flat glass, Health and Safety - useful links documents. See insights on Glass Recycling UK including office locations, competitors, revenue, financials, executives, subsidiaries and more at Craft. This is what you find in juice bottles, pasta-sauce jars, and other food and beverage packaging. Fax: +44 (0) 114 290 1851, Registered in England and Wales / Company No. The average UK household uses about 330 glass bottles and jars every year. British Glass Manufacturers' Confederation, You can recycle this plastic if your Local Authority refers to: 1. It is 100% recyclable and can be re-melted endlessly without ever reducing its quality. The glass is sorted by colour and washed to remove any impurities. Glass Recycling UK has 5 employees at their 1 location and £15.93 M in annual revenue in FY 2018. 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