• Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • CIAdvanced Digital Edition
    • Archives
  • News
  • New Products
  • Topics
    • Advanced Ceramics
    • Refractories
    • Glass
    • Whitewares
    • Brick and Structural Clay
    • Raw and Processed Materials
    • Firing and Drying
    • Batching and Materials Handling
    • Forming and Finishing
    • Instrumentation & Lab Equipment
    • Decorating
  • Columns
    • IP in Depth
    • Glass Works
    • Ceramic Decorating
    • The Big Picture
  • More
    • CIAdvanced Microsite
    • CI Top 12
    • Raw & Manufactured Materials Overview
    • eNewsletters
    • Classifieds & Services Marketplace
    • Virtual Supplier Brochures
    • Market Trends
    • Blogs
    • Material Properties Charts
    • CI Store
    • CI Supplier of the Year Award
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • Mobile App
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Ceramics Expo 2017
  • Directories
    • Data Book & Buyers' Guide
    • Ceramic Components Directory
    • Materials Handbook
    • Equipment Digest
    • R&D Lab Equipment & Instrumentation
    • Services Directory
    • Take a Tour
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
    • eNewsletters
    • Online Registration
    • Customer Service
Home » Glass Works: Glass Bottle Recycling Benefits and Barriers
Glass WorksColumnsGlassResource Management

Glass Works: Glass Bottle Recycling Benefits and Barriers

While consumers clearly know that glass is 100% recyclable, they need to have confidence that the important action they take to recycle glass bottles will result in new glass containers.

glass bottle recycling benefits and barriers
Figure 1. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity.
glass bottle recycling benefits and barriers
Figure 2. Frequency of recycling glass bottles/containers.
glass bottle recycling benefits and barriers
glass bottle recycling benefits and barriers
August 6, 2013
Lynn Bragg
KEYWORDS general business / packaging / recycling / sustainability
Reprints
No Comments

A new U.S. survey of just over 4,000 adults finds that 65% “strongly agree” or “agree” that glass bottles are 100% recyclable, and 73% always or usually recycle whatever they can. But barriers to recycling glass containers remain for some consumers, and 46% believe that many of the recyclables dropped in their recycling bin still go to the landfill.

Conducted during March and April by EcoFocus Worldwide, and commissioned by the Glass Packaging Institute (among other organizations), the survey shows that while Americans have an appreciation for the strong environmental benefits of recycling glass containers, there may be obstacles to taking that action.

A Positive Outlook

Consumers seem to have a better recycling profile for glass packaging over other packaging materials, and they generally have positive attitudes about recycling. Just over half (51%) of respondents say “environmental impact” influences their packaging decisions, and 77% said glass bottles and jars have a “positive” or “no impact” on the environment.

A full 65% say that they always or usually recycle their glass containers, and just over 76% of respondents “strongly agree” or “agree” that recycling is important to them. But 45% of respondents “strongly agree” or “agree” that many of the recyclables they put into their recycling bins still go to a landfill, and 53% believe they would recycle more if they knew the materials were reliably recycled.

Recycling Collection and Skepticism

Some of the reason for the consumer lack of confidence that materials are actually recycled is that the majority (57%) recycle their glass bottles in the same container as other recyclables, called single-stream recycling. While convenient and easy for consumers, this form of curbside collection can have an impact on the quality of the materials collected for recycling and limit their potential use in remanufacture. This is especially true for glass containers.

While most respondents (60%) recycle through some type of curbside program, glass bottle recycling participation may be highest in states with container deposit programs. This type of collection also generates the highest-quality glass for recycling.

Just over 75% of survey respondents who live in the 10 container deposit states return their bottles or cans for deposit—and eventual recycling. I

Barriers to Glass Bottle Recycling

While the majority of survey respondents say they want to recycle and think it’s important, they outline a number of reasons for not recycling their glass containers. Heading up the list is lack of awareness, with 22% saying they’re “not sure glass is recyclable in my area.” This is followed by “too much effort” (19%), glass not being accepted in their recycling program (18%) and concerns about glass breaking (17%).

It’s around these barriers where we need to step up efforts. This includes ensuring that consumers have access to glass container recycling, and that there is education for local residents to improve awareness about how and where to recycle in their area.

And, while consumers clearly know that glass is 100% recyclable, they need to have confidence that the important action they take to recycle glass bottles will result in new glass containers. Get more findings from the survey at www.gpi.org.

For additional glass coverage, visit www.ceramicindustry.com/glass.


 Any views or opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not represent those of Ceramic Industry, its staff, Editorial Advisory Board or BNP Media. 

Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to Ceramic Industry Magazine.

Recent Articles by Lynn Bragg

Survey Underscores Desire for Successful Glass Recycling Programs

Partnerships Key to Glass Recycling Success

Glass Recycling Coalition Strengthens Community Resources

Measuring the Success of a Glass Recycling Program

Beverage Container Deposit Refund Programs

Lynn-bragg-107px
Lynn Bragg is the President of the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI). Founded in 1919, the Washington, D.C.-based GPI represents the North American glass container manufacturing industry. To find out more about the strong environmental position of glass containers, visit www.gpi.org and sign up to receive the institute's monthly e-newsletter.

Related Articles

Glass Works: State Legislative Activity for Recycling Ramps Up

Glass Works: Glass Container Industry Pursues Sustainability Goal

Glass Works: Consumers Ready to Recycle and Save Natural Resources

Glass Works: Improving Public Confidence in Closed-Loop Recycling

Related Products

71st Glass Problems Conference: Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings, Volume 32 Issue 1

Fractography of Glasses and Ceramics V

Crystals in Glass: A Hidden Beauty

Ceramic Industry Equipment Digest

Related Events

78th Conference on Glass Problems

GlassPrint 2017

Direct Container Print Conference

GlassBuild America

Related Directories

Specialty Glass Inc.

Specialty Glass Inc.

Specialty Glass Inc.

Technical Glass Products Inc.

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Customer Service

More Videos

CI directories

Products

Handbook of Advanced Ceramics Machining

Handbook of Advanced Ceramics Machining

Ceramics, with their unique properties and diverse applications, hold the potential to revolutionize many industries, including automotive and semiconductors.

See More Products

CI raw and manufactured materials

Ceramic Industry Magazine

CI August 2017 Cover

2017 August

The summer's heating up in our August issue! Check out articles on Industry 4.0 projects, drying considerations, physical vapor deposition coatings, and more.
View More Subscribe
  • Resources
    • Advertiser Index
    • List Rental
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Manufacturing Group
    • Partners
    • Want More?
    • Connect
    • Privacy Policy

Copyright ©2017. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing