Why Can't I Put Window Glass Into My Recycling?

Glass is one of the materials that can be infinitely recycled without losing its purity, strength, or
quality. Very few food and beverage packaging options can make the same claim.

But if glass is this easy and valuable to recycle, why can't ALL glass be thrown into the recycling?

While all glass is made out of the same basic materials of sand, ash, soda and lime, objects made of glass that are not standard glass containers,  aren't able to be placed into your residential recycling container. Glass, like windows, ovenware, Pyrex, crystal, light bulbs, etc. are manufactured through a different process.

Most of these types of glass are treated with chemicals or have different additives and coatings. If they are introduced into the glass container recycling and manufacturing process, they can cause production problems and defective containers.

Although it is preferable to remove lids and caps made of metal or plastic from glass jars and bottles, you are welcome to leave them on since magnets and other processes are in place to remove them from the recycling stream before the glass is sent on to the world market for reuse. And, as is usually customary in recycling programs, it is requested that food and beverage residue is rinsed from glass containers before placing them into your recycling.

For more information on recyclable materials visit www.wasteawaygroup.com

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