If you are conscious about the environment, you may be wondering if you can recycle glass. What makes glass recyclable, and how do you go about it?
What about larger items, like broken windows? In today’s post, we’ll give a brief overview of how and when to recycle your glass.
Is Glass Recyclable?
In a word, yes. As the executive director of the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council (GMIC) says, glass is completely recyclable and “can be melted and recycled endlessly to make new glass products with no loss in quality.” On a basic level, glass is formed by melting sand. Other components, such as calcium carbonate or sodium carbonate, can be added to create different types of glass, and each type will have a different melting point and requirements for recycling into new glass.
Although glass can be recycled, the US has only a 33% recycling rate—compared to a whopping 90% rate in European countries. So what sets the US apart? It likely comes down to not knowing how to appropriately recycle. Many US citizens participate in “wish-cycling,” or throwing questionable things into the recycling bin in hopes they can be recycled. This can be avoided by educating yourself on the proper disposal of various materials, including glass.
How to Recycle Glass
Did you know that here in Utah, most residential recycling does not accept glass in the recycling bin? Salt Lake City now offers curbside glass recycling, but what should you do if you live in Utah County? Glass bottles are recyclable and can be dropped off at designated locations along the Wasatch Front. You can check to see if your city has a glass recycling drop-off, or even look for a bin at your local supermarket.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) notes that vases, cookware, or windows can not be recycled in this manner. Part of the reason it is so important to separate recycling materials properly is because they are each processed differently. Glass bottles and jars, for example, can be crushed and turned into a granular glass-making material known as cullet, which significantly cuts down the energy cost of making new glass.
What about Recycling Glass Windows?
It’s all well and good to take care of recycling your glass bottles and jars, but what about your windows? As you may know, repairing broken windows is tricky, and often they simply need to be replaced. The good news is that instead of dumping them in the trash, only to end up in the landfill, you can recycle your broken windows by dropping them off at the appropriate recycling facility.
Call the Glass Experts at Murray Glass
Now that you have the resources to recycle glass contact Murray Glass for all of your own glass needs. From broken window repair or replacement to mirrors and glass tabletops, we’ve got everything you need, along with years of experience as a Utah family-owned business. Contact us to get started on your next project today. We serve Salt Lake City, West Jordan, South Jordan, and everywhere in between!
