Glass Recycling
The UK glass industry produces approximately 3.7 million tonnes of glass each year, and this is divided into four main categories - container glass, flat glass, fibre glass and domestic glass. Manufacture of containers for food and drink, and production of glazing for the automotive and the construction industries accounted for about 90% of all glass produced in the UK in 2006.New glass processing plants have appeared and alternative markets have been developed over recent years, as the demand for cullet (recycled glass) from industry and aggregates businesses has increased.
2006's glass recycling levels were at an all time high - 1.3 million tonnes of cullet was recycled to produce new glass containers, accounting for 54% of the total waste stream. Clear glass is valued most highly in the UK as most of our glass containers are made from clear glass; however, it is green glass that comes through to the recycling system more than any other, especially as the UK now imports huge quantities of coloured, pre-filled wine bottles for the retail market. Mixed glass cannot be used in the re-melt process because colour purity is vital and, therefore, it goes for alternative purposes, although modern technology is now advancing to allow glassmakers to sort colour contaminated glass. Many local authorities have now expanded their kerbside collections to meet recycling targets, which has resulted in an increase in the tonnage of cullet in the marketplace, but again the material is often mixed glass. Obviously, the best way to ensure colour separation is through the bring bank system.
Increased energy costs and limits on carbon emissions continue to influence glassmakers to strive to use more and more recycled cullet, even though they are faced with competition from other glass markets such as the aggregates industry. It seems obvious that in time as the amount of cullet in the marketplace continues to rise, it will not only be glassmakers who benefit but also the other industries that use cullet, such as grit blasting, road surface materials and water filtration businesses. The figures for 2005 show that about 280,000 tonnes of recycled glass went to these alternative markets.
Export provides a comparatively new market for waste glass, and cullet sent for export has seen a steady rise. According to Defra figures almost 243,000 tonnes of glass packaging was exported for recycling in 2005, taking the total amount of UK glass bottles and jars recycled up to about 1.26 million tonnes in that year.
Reasons to Recycle Glass:-
To reduce landfill costs - On average glass makes up 8% of the weight of household rubbish. If we can recycle any of this glass, savings can be made by reducing the overall amount of waste to be disposed of, thus cutting the costs for local authorities and waste disposal contractors. In addition the life of landfill sites is also extended.
2006's glass recycling levels were at an all time high - 1.3 million tonnes of cullet was recycled to produce new glass containers, accounting for 54% of the total waste stream. Clear glass is valued most highly in the UK as most of our glass containers are made from clear glass; however, it is green glass that comes through to the recycling system more than any other, especially as the UK now imports huge quantities of coloured, pre-filled wine bottles for the retail market. Mixed glass cannot be used in the re-melt process because colour purity is vital and, therefore, it goes for alternative purposes, although modern technology is now advancing to allow glassmakers to sort colour contaminated glass. Many local authorities have now expanded their kerbside collections to meet recycling targets, which has resulted in an increase in the tonnage of cullet in the marketplace, but again the material is often mixed glass. Obviously, the best way to ensure colour separation is through the bring bank system.
Increased energy costs and limits on carbon emissions continue to influence glassmakers to strive to use more and more recycled cullet, even though they are faced with competition from other glass markets such as the aggregates industry. It seems obvious that in time as the amount of cullet in the marketplace continues to rise, it will not only be glassmakers who benefit but also the other industries that use cullet, such as grit blasting, road surface materials and water filtration businesses. The figures for 2005 show that about 280,000 tonnes of recycled glass went to these alternative markets.
Export provides a comparatively new market for waste glass, and cullet sent for export has seen a steady rise. According to Defra figures almost 243,000 tonnes of glass packaging was exported for recycling in 2005, taking the total amount of UK glass bottles and jars recycled up to about 1.26 million tonnes in that year.
Reasons to Recycle Glass:-
To reduce landfill costs - On average glass makes up 8% of the weight of household rubbish. If we can recycle any of this glass, savings can be made by reducing the overall amount of waste to be disposed of, thus cutting the costs for local authorities and waste disposal contractors. In addition the life of landfill sites is also extended.
To conserve energy - Glass is made up of cheap and plentiful raw materials, however large amounts of these materials are required to produce new glass. Glass is made up from a mixture of sand (72%), soda ash (14%) and limestone (12%). These raw materials are melted in a furnace at more than 1500 degrees centigrade which requires large amounts of energy. Using cullet (recycled glass) saves the energy required to extract and deliver these raw materials.
To conserve the environment - For every tonne of waste glass used in a furnace there is a saving of 1.2 tonnes of primary raw materials. This reduces quarrying for sand and limestone which contributes to the preservation of our countryside.
Employment - Glass recycling provides employment for thousands of people throughout the UK. Glass collection schemes also create jobs locally and some authorities use money raised by these schemes to help voluntary organisations and charities.
Public awareness - Glass recycling increases public awareness of recycling issues. Knowledge of the environmental concerns that affect us all are brought to mind each time we see a bottle bank, and using such facilities is the first step to becoming conscientious consumers.
To conserve the environment - For every tonne of waste glass used in a furnace there is a saving of 1.2 tonnes of primary raw materials. This reduces quarrying for sand and limestone which contributes to the preservation of our countryside.
Employment - Glass recycling provides employment for thousands of people throughout the UK. Glass collection schemes also create jobs locally and some authorities use money raised by these schemes to help voluntary organisations and charities.
Public awareness - Glass recycling increases public awareness of recycling issues. Knowledge of the environmental concerns that affect us all are brought to mind each time we see a bottle bank, and using such facilities is the first step to becoming conscientious consumers.
