Recycle glass is take care of the environment and a fundamental tool to fight against climate change and the overexploitation of natural resources. In addition, by recycling glass containers, we are preventing the growth of landfills. In recent years you have probably heard the phrase "the best waste is the one that is not produced" on more than one occasion. But while this ideal is achieved, we can do our bit and help to reuse the glass. How can we do it? Very simple: recycling all glass containers that come our way.
Continue reading this Green Ecologist article to know how to recycle glass, how is your recycling process when you arrive at a glass recycling plant and also, different crafts with glass bottles that you can do at home to give a new life to glass bottles.
What is the glass recycling container
The glass recycling bin It's of green color. In it, only and exclusively various types of glass containers are collected. We know that on many occasions it is a bit confusing to remember what waste and materials go in each container. And it is that, who has not ever doubted whether the lids of the jars and glass bottles go in the green or the yellow container?
To solve this and more possible doubts about what waste should be deposited in the green container for glass recycling, you can consult the following list. What can be thrown in the glass container?
- Yes: bottles, jars, jars.
- No: caps or lids (they must be placed in the yellow container); crystals (glasses, glasses or light bulbs, you should take them to the nearest clean point); ceramic or porcelain (cups or plates that you should also take to a clean point).
In this other Green Ecologist post you can learn more about what can be recycled in the green container.
Step-by-step glass recycling process
For the manufacture of glass, the extraction of silica and the correct production of the different glass containers in a bottling plant is necessary. Subsequently, the glass products will be ready for marketing and consumption by consumer customers, who will later dispose of them as waste once they deem it appropriate to terminate the useful life of the product.
After this moment, recycling comes into play as a fundamental tool for maximum use of glass, so that, after the selective collection of waste previously deposited in the green glass container, these are transported to the glass recycling plant, in which the following is carried out glass recycling process:
- The glass is separated and classified by color and elements.
- All material other than glass is removed.
- The glass is crushed and mixed with sand, sodium hydroxide and limestone, to make new products.
However, there are other glass recycling processes that are not carried out in recycling plants. It is about all those reuse opportunities that we give to the different glass containers in our homes, gardens, restaurants and offices. In the next sections of this article you will discover how to recycle and reuse glass in the most sustainable and ingenious way.
How to recycle glass at home
it is becoming more common recycle glass at home. Typically, a garbage can for recycling glass containers exclusively, which is important that it is always well marked to avoid confusion during the recycling process. On the other hand, we must always try to eliminate all the possible liquid that may remain in the bottles and different glass containers that we are recycling.
Another important point to take into account when recycling glass is to inform us if there is a place (shop, bar or others) that is responsible for accepting returnable glass bottles, that is to say, that they facilitate that the container is reused when it is returned to the bottling plant.
If, on the other hand, you choose to give glass containers a new life in your own home, remember that you can always use them to store other liquids (oil, vinegar, water), as well as food in the pantry (legumes, cookies, pasta) and / or in the fridge (sauces); Or even use them as a tupper and take your salads or cereals with yogurt to eat outside the home.
Ideas for recycling glass bottles
Although if what you are looking for are glass bottle crafts that they allow you reuse and extend its useful life in a more ingenious and original way, don't miss the following list of ideas:
- Use them as decorative vases, centerpieces and in the kitchen with aromatic plants.
- Put them in the bathroom, with sandalwood sticks to keep them smelling fresh.
- As a shoemaker, placing them with wooden boards or other material.
- Decorating them with a photograph as a label for the wine bottle and making a most original gif.webpt.
- As lamps, with bulbs or small lights and even candle holders.
Here you can see more Simple ideas to recycle glass and crystal bottles.
Advantages of recycling glass
Glass has infinite lives! It's about a 100% recyclable material that, in addition, does not lose its quality no matter how much it is reused or recycled. Therefore, as we can imagine, advantages of recycling glass they are very valuable. For example, with the simple recycling of 3 glass bottles:
- It saves the energy required to run a refrigerator for 2 full days.
- You can put up to 3 complete washing machines.
- Enough energy is saved to charge a smartphone battery for 1 year and a tablet battery for 10 months.
Here you can know more advantages and learn why it is important to recycle glass. As you can see, recycling glass is all advantages! Do not hesitate and share this information so that more and more homes, offices and other businesses are joining the recycling of glass.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to recycle glass, we recommend that you enter our Recycling and waste management category.
Bibliography- Rodríguez, R., Gómez, N., Zarauza, P. & Benítez, A. M. (2013) Environmental Education, Waste and Recycling. Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning of the Junta de Andalucía, Ecoembes & Ecovidrio.
- Rodríguez, G. & IMAGINA, Education and Leisure Team (2015) University guide to environmental education on waste and recycling. Andalusia EcoCampus.
