There are tons of waste generated each day from different households, companies and institutions. Most of these waste ends up in a landfill, or in the ocean, destroying marine life, water quality underground and natural beauty of the world. To reduce the amount of waste, we are all encouraged to adopt the recycling habit. One of the things that end up in our trash cans is glass. However, glass is made from a material that can be recycled. In this article, we shall look at things that you need to know about glass recycling;
1. Glass is 100% recyclable
Unlike most plastic and other types of waste, glass is made up of material that can be recycled. When taken to a recycling plant, glass of any type, ranging from drinking glass to glass fibre, is broken down into smaller pieces known as cullet. The cullet is then sorted, crushed further and mixed with other materials such as sand and soda ash, then melted in a furnace. Afterwards, it is then cast into different shapes, sizes and colours to make new glass containers.
2. Recycling glass lowers carbon footprints
Recycling glass helps to reduce the amount of natural material required to make new glass. This will help to drastically reduce the amount of carbon footprint and save the environment. For every recycled glass, it displaces the need to extract virgin raw materials from the ground. In addition, recycling glass saves energy and reduces carbon emissions compared to making new glass.
3. Recycling glass happens quickly
You may be thinking that recycling glass takes many months or years. However, a glass container can be recovered from a trash can, recycled into a new jar and appear in a store as new within 30 days. It does not take ages to recycle glass and have it being used for other purposes.A very high percentage of recovered glass is made into new glass containers in a recycling plant, and it can happen quickly.
4. Unsuitable glass for recycling can be used for other purposes
Some glass may be destroyed into very small pieces that are hard to recycle, or contaminated with other chemicals that can result in defective containers. Such glass is not taken for recycling into new glass jars, but also, it is not thrown away. It is used for secondary applications such as creating tiles, sandblasts and many others. Therefore, before you dismiss any type of glass into unrecyclable, consult with a recycling firm near you.
5. Not all glass is recycled into glass jars and containers
Some glasses are manufactured differently, with materials that cannot be melted at the same temperature glass jars, bottles and containers for beverages and food. Such glass includes light bulbs, windows, crystals, Pyrex, just to mention a few. When such glass is mixed with glass container manufacturing, it can lead to defective containers that are not allowed in the market. However, such types of glass are recycled differently to manufacture building materials such as concrete and eco-cement.
6. Glass is considered to be a healthier container for food and beverages
Apart from glass being recyclable, it is also considered to be a healthier container for food and beverages compared to plastics. Glass is made of natural materials different from other containers that are made from chemicals that are believed to leach into your food. In addition, glass containers can be used again and again through a recycling process, unlike the plastic containers that are mostly one time us.
7. Recycled glass is more efficient
Recycled glass is more tough and stronger compared to reused glass bottles. Although glass is made from biodegradable materials, it is known to depreciate with time. Therefore, if your jars are older and looking fragile, you can give them up for recycling to get stronger jars and containers. Most glass containers are recyclable, and they can be recycled over and over, even up to 100 times. If you have glass in your house, not knowing how to dispose of it, then contact us at Paul’s Rubbish Removal. We are a rubbish removal company in Sydney that is popularly known for responsible rubbish removal and disposal. Call us today at 0407 125 125 for a free consultation.
