Glass Recycling

Recycling Glass - What You Should Know by Christopher John Graham

Recycling Glass

When you finish guzzling down that bottle of Perrier, do you ever stop to think about what that bottle will be in its next life, so to speak? Probably not and you're not alone. Most of us recycle because that's just what you do now. We all know that it's the right thing to do because it's better for the environment and in most places, it is now law, but you probably don't give it much thought beyond that or really know why or how. After reading this article you'll think twice before cutting the occasional corner and tossing a jar or bottle into the trash and you'll likely never see glass quite the same way!

Did you know that glass is 100 percent recyclable? That ornate glass vase your grandma gave you or those fancy wine glasses or decorative bottles that you display - all made of simple materials that can be recycled! No matter how fancy or intricate glass can be made to look; it is made from soda ash, silica sand and limestone. That's it. So these means that glass can be recycled indefinitely. The next time you're drinking a bottle of juice, think about the fact that the glass from your bottle will go on to be something else, like a coffee jar and then maybe a baby food jar and eventually even a bottle of medicine, because glass can be recycled over and over which means making it last forever-or at least long after you're gone!

Glass is not only being broken down and used to make other glass containers, but in many countries; used glass containers and bottles are being re-used/refilled. This is the ultimate in glass recycling because it is simple and requires nothing more than the sanitization of the containers. Most countries offer consumers the opportunity to return bottles to the store in which they were purchased or in 'bottle banks' which are common in the UK. The glass which is not refilled and instead used to make other glass items is still an excellent benefit for our environment as it reduces energy consumption by not having to break down all new materials for new glass. It also means that less waste is being sent to landfills-another plus for the environment. Finally, it also helps in the manufacturing of brick, ceramic and fiberglass which are all an absolute necessity in this day and age.

We've come a long way in recent years when it comes to the recycling of glass. It was in the early seventies that the US began charging a five cent deposit on pop bottles which would be refunded when the bottle would be returned to the vendor. This certainly helped some since it meant a little bit of pocket money for anyone who stumbled on bottles outside and went through the trouble of returning them. These days though while we may not be paid directly for the bottles that we refrain from tossing in the trash; we certainly benefit by doing good for the world around us. Things have also gotten easier thanks to government issued recycling containers that are accessible to anyone regardless of where they live.

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