Alexei Volkov
Glass and plastic are both recyclable materials, but they are typically recycled separately. In many areas, waste management companies provide separate bins for glass and plastic and may also have specific guidelines for what they can process. Glass, in particular, can contaminate other materials if broken during the recycling process, and glass shards can also be dangerous to workers and damage machinery. Therefore, it is important to separate glass and plastic when recycling and to check local guidelines to ensure proper disposal.
Do you recycle glass with plastic?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability of glass and plastic | Glass and plastic containers are 100% recyclable. |
| Recycling process | Glass and plastic should be recycled separately. Glass should be separated by colour and size and plastic by resin code. |
| Contamination | Glass fragments can contaminate other materials in the recycling load, such as cardboard and paper, making the entire load unusable. |
| Environmental impact | Recycling glass and plastic reduces greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing. |
| Recycling rates | The recycling rate for glass in Oregon has climbed to 88.5%. In 2009, America recycled 31% of its glass containers and 28% of plastic bottles. |
| Collection | Waste management companies usually provide separate bins for glass and plastic. Glass can be recycled at drop-off locations, while plastic is often picked up at the curbside or returned to a recycling center. |
| Preparation | Glass and plastic containers should be empty and rinsed before recycling. |
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What You'll Learn
Glass and plastic recycling rates in the US
Glass and plastic recycling rates differ significantly in the US. Glass can be recycled infinitely without any loss in quality, and glass recycling rates in the US reflect this. In 2006, the average rate of glass recycling in the US was 27.8%. In comparison, the EU's average glass packaging collection rate in 2022 was 80.2%.
Plastic, on the other hand, presents unique challenges to recycling, such as difficulties in collection and sorting, the danger of toxins, and a lack of profitability. As a result, plastic recycling rates in the US are extremely low. Studies show that in 2021, the US recycled just 5-6% of its post-consumer plastic waste. This figure is even lower than the global plastic recycling rate in 2019, which was 9%.
The low recycling rate for plastic in the US is especially concerning given the increase in plastic waste generation. Since 1980, the per capita generation of plastic waste in the US has increased by 263%. This is in stark contrast to the recycling rate for paper, which was 66% in 2020, and cardboard packaging, which had a 79.3% recycling rate in Europe in 2023.
While glass recycling rates in the US are higher than those for plastic, there is still room for improvement. The high recycling rates for materials like paper and cardboard demonstrate that recycling can be effective in reclaiming valuable natural resources. By addressing the challenges associated with plastic recycling and working to improve glass recycling rates, the US can move towards a more sustainable future.
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Glass recycling contamination
One of the primary concerns with glass recycling is broken glass, which can contaminate other recyclables, such as paper and cardboard, and lower their value. Broken glass also poses safety hazards to workers and can damage machines at recycling facilities, increasing processing costs. To maintain the value of their materials, recyclers focus on quality and reducing contamination. Glass needs to be sorted by colour to produce high-quality bottles and jars, and broken glass can be challenging to sort and reprocess.
Microplastic contamination is another issue in glass recycling. The processes of crushing and washing glass may generate microplastics and release harmful substances, including heavy metals and organic pollutants. These microplastics can contaminate water, air, and soil around recycling facilities, impacting the ecological environment and human health. It is important to minimise the generation of microplastics during recycling and ensure their safe disposal.
To address glass recycling contamination, some companies have developed colour-sorting equipment to separate glass by colour and reduce colour contamination. The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has also published standards and protocols for glass recycling, such as PAS 101 and the Quality Protocol for flat glass, to increase customer confidence and provide guidelines for the industry.
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Plastic recycling codes
- PET (or PETE): This stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate. PET is one of the most widely recycled plastics globally and is used in many food containers and soft drink bottles. It has a high recycling market value as it can be turned into products of similar quality, and the recycling process is relatively simple.
- HDPE: High-Density Polyethylene is another commonly recycled plastic worldwide. It is a durable, hard plastic that is often used for cleaning or personal care products, as well as milk bottles. Due to its non-food uses and ability to withstand most solvents, it has a high market value and can be recycled multiple times.
- PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride is a long-lasting and durable plastic that is resistant to sunlight, water, and other harsh conditions. However, PVC recycling is not as common, and there is a limited market for recycled PVC. It is often not collected through kerbside recycling programs, and many places lack the facilities to process it.
- LDPE: Low-Density Polyethylene is used for most soft plastic products globally. It is lightweight and relatively less toxic, making it popular for food packaging, but it is often only used for single-purpose applications. LDPE is not typically accepted in kerbside collections due to the difficulty in sorting and fully recycling it.
- PP: Polypropylene is used for items like plastic furniture, jerry cans, car parts, and bottle tops.
- PS: Polystyrene is used for disposable cups, meat trays, and packaging for electronics. It is commonly known as styrofoam and is mainly used in fast food. However, polystyrene is one of the most problematic plastics, and many places have moved to prohibit its use.
- Other: Code 7 is a residual or miscellaneous category that includes plastics like polyurethane and polycarbonate. These plastics are often burned rather than recycled and are considered unsafe for use.
It is important to note that the recyclability of a product depends on various factors beyond just the type of plastic. Local recycling programs and guidelines may vary, so it is always advisable to check with your local waste management services to understand what specific types of plastics they can process. Additionally, remember to rinse your recyclables and follow any specific instructions for lids or caps to ensure effective recycling.
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Glass recycling drop-off locations
When it comes to glass recycling, it is important to check your local programs to confirm what is accepted in your area.
In Salt Lake City, Utah, glass can be recycled at Momentum Recycling's processing facility. The company provides a variety of recycling collection services for businesses and homeowners in and around the city. There are also voluntary curbside services and drop-off sites for glass recycling. The Salt Lake Valley Landfill site (6030 W. California Avenue) is one such drop-off location, but it is heavily used, especially on weekends. These drop-off sites are intended for use by residents only.
If you are a resident in the Gulf South, you can also find drop-off locations for glass and mixed recycling.
It is important to note that glass should be collected separately from other recyclables. When glass is collected in a curbside can, it can break and degrade the other recyclables, reducing their value. By collecting glass separately, more of it can be recycled.
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Plastic bags and recycling
Plastic bags are among the most common sources of marine debris, where they can be mistaken for food by birds and fish. Unlike paper bags, plastic bags don't biodegrade, and it will take hundreds of years for them to decompose in a landfill. Recycling a ton of plastic bags (approximately 450,000 bags) saves 11 barrels of oil.
Plastic bags can be recycled, but they are recycled differently than bottles and containers. Plastic bags should not be placed in most curbside recycling bins as they can gum up the works and cause issues for workers and sorting equipment at recycling facilities. Many large retailers, such as Kroger, Safeway, Target, and Walmart, offer bag recycling collections in their stores, and there are thousands of retail stores and drop-off centers that accept plastic film packaging for recycling. Before recycling plastic bags, it is important to check with your local recycling entity as recycling methods may differ from town to town.
When recycling plastic bags, ensure that they have a #2 or #4 plastic symbol on them. If they do not have either of these symbols, it is recommended to reuse the bag and then throw it away, as you cannot be sure what type of plastic resin the bag is made from.
To recycle plastic bags, they are chipped into pellets, which can then be reprocessed into new bags or shipped to a company to be manufactured into plastic lumber for decking, park benches, or other similar products.
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Frequently asked questions
No, glass should be separated from other types of recyclables. Contact your local waste management company to check if they provide separate bins for glass.
Glass is vulnerable to breakage and can contaminate the recycling process. Glass shards can also injure workers and damage recycling machinery.
Glass bottles and jars can be recycled together. Lids should be removed and added to a non-glass recycling bin.
Drinking glasses, windows, mirrors, light bulbs, and glass furniture cannot be recycled.
Most rigid plastics can be recycled. This includes food and drink containers, caps and lids, cups and bowls, toys, consumer packaging, and acetate boxes.
