Recycling glass is taking 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 any glass container that comes into our hands.
Continue reading this AgroCorrn article to know how to recycle glass , what its recycling process is like when you arrive at a glass recycling plant and also, different crafts with glass bottles that you can do at home to give the bottles a new life of glass.
- What is the glass recycling container
- Step-by-step glass recycling process
- How to recycle glass at home
- Ideas for recycling glass bottles
- Advantages of recycling glass
Index
What is the glass recycling container
The glass recycling bin is the green one . 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 glass jars and bottles go in the green container or in the yellow one?
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 bulbs, you should take them to the nearest clean point); ceramics or porcelain (cups or plates that you should also take to a clean point).
In this other Green Ecology 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 a 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 glass recycling process is carried out :
- 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 and more common to recycle glass at home . Normally, a rubbish bin is used for the recycling of 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, that facilitate the container to be used again upon being 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 out.
Ideas for recycling glass bottles
Although if what you are looking for are crafts with glass bottles that allow you to reuse and extend their useful life in a more ingenious and original way, do not 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 gift.
- 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 is 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, the advantages of recycling glass 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 .
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