- Glass containers are 100 percent recyclable, can be recycled endlessly and recovered glass is used as the majority ingredient in new glass containers.
- An estimated 80 percent of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles.
- According to the EPA, 34.5 percent of glass beer and soft drink bottles and 28.1 percent of all glass containers were recycled in 2007.
- In some states, like California, glass bottle recycling nears 79 percent.
- Americans recycle nearly 13 million glass jars and bottles every day.
- The glass container industry has an annual revenue of $5.5. billion, with almost 50 manufacturing plants located throughout the U.S.
- The typical glass processing facility can recycle up to 20 tons of glass per hour.
- Glass containers produced today are 40 percent lighter than when they were 20 years ago, making them much easier to recycle.
- Every ton of glass that is recycled results in one ton of raw materials saved to process new glass, including: 1,300 pounds of sand, 410 pounds of soda ash and 380 pounds of limestone.
- Glass containers come in four different colors: clear, blue, brown and green; glass must be separated by color to ensure that new glass is not created from a mix of colors.
- Most recycling programs will only accept glass containers, because other glass products such as drinking glasses, lightbulbs, mirrors and Pyrex are treated with contaminants when manufactured.
- A 2005 study by the Beverage Packaging Environmental Council found that 18 percent of glass bottles are consumed at bars or restaurants.
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Facts About Glass Recycling
Facts About Glass Recycling
