For information visit act.gov.au/recycling or phone Access Canberra on 13 22 81

GLASS RECYCLING

INTRODUCTIONIn its original form, glass comes from three main virgin materials: silica in the form of sand, soda ash and limestone. Glass was first made more than 5,000 years ago for jewellery and is widely used today in an array of applications including packaging items.1.

HOW IS GLASS MADE?All the virgin or recycled materials are melted in a furnace at a heat of about 1,500 degrees Celsius. The ingredients are melted into a liquid or molten form that is then dropped into a mould. Air blowing into the mould creates the shape of a bottle or jar. Once cooled, the bottles and jars are ready to be filled.The glass recycling process produces a crushed glass product called ‘cullet’. Cullet is often mixed with virgin glass materials to produce new products. Making new glass from recycled cullet saves energy and raw materials.

For information visit act.gov.au/recycling or phone Access Canberra on 13 22 81

GLASS RECYCLING

THE PROBLEMGlass takes significant inputs of energy and resources to make and is heavy to transport. Australians consume a lot of imported glass products and packaging. Hence, we are collecting more glass waste than is required by local manufacturers who use recycled cullet. So, we need to find new ways to use all the glass we put in the recycling bins. This glass could be exported to international glass manufacturers or beneficially reused locally in other ways.

GLASS AND THE ENVIRONMENT Using virgin materials for the production of glass requires significant energy inputs and extraction of natural resources. Recycling or beneficially reusing glass saves energy and reduces the environmental impacts associated with extracting virgin materials.

Glass is highly problematic when littered as it breaks into sharp pieces and can injure people and wildlife.

THE SOLUTIONAVOID, REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLEAvoid buying goods that use excessive packaging and avoid creating unnecessary waste glass by reusing glass bottles and jars where possible, instead of buying new products.Recycling glass conserves resources and energy. Glass recycling can occur in two ways. Glass can be crushed into “cullet” and sorted by colour then transported interstate for melting and remanufacture back into glass bottles.Glass can also be imploded into glass sand called “fines”. This glass sand can be used locally as a sand or gravel replacement in a variety of industrial applications such as concrete, pool filtration media and road base. This reduces the need to mine the sand and quarry the gravel, and avoids truck movements and the associated environmental and human health impacts. The ACT Government provides a kerbside collection service that takes glass, and has established a container deposit scheme (CDS).

TIPS FOR YOUR KERBSIDE BINHere are some tips on what can and can’t be placed in your kerbside bins.

YESn All beverage glass: clear, green, brown (amber) bottles including wine, beer,

juice, soft drink and sauce bottles.n Glass jars – such as those from jams, spreads and other sauces.

NOBroken glass pieces can be hazardous to the workers in our Materials Recovery Facility. Also, the following household glass products should NOT be placed in your recycling bin. n Oven proof glassn Chinan Light globesn Mirrorsn Laminate window glass and windscreen glass Visit act.gov.au/recycling for disposal of these items.

CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME (CDS)The ACT has established a CDS in 2018. Consumers can return eligible beverage containers to designated drop-off points and receive a 10 cent refund for each container. This will help to reduce litter, increase the recycling rates of used containers and help engage the community in positive recycling behaviours.

DID YOU KNOW? n Glass was first made more than

5,000 years ago.

n The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will operate a 100-watt light bulb for four hours, or a fluorescent bulb for 20 hours.

n Recycling glass saves 74% of the energy it takes to make glass from raw materials.2.

n Every 1kg of recycled glass cullet used replaces 1.2kg of virgin raw materials that would otherwise need to be extracted or mined.

n Every 10% of recycled glass or cullet used in glass production results in an approximately 5% reduction in carbon emissions, and energy savings of around 3%.3.

REFERENCES1. Suez glass information fact sheet.

www.sita.com.au/community-education/site-tours-education/fact-sheets

2. Get it right on bin night.http://www.getitrightbinnight.vic.gov.au

3. Ohio Industrieshttp://www.o-i.com/Sustainability/ Life-Cycle-Assessment

This fact sheet has been produced by the ACT Government. We acknowledge the generous assistance of Clean Up Australia. Reviewed September 2018.