Processing Glass Bottles for Recycling
Glass containers are 100% recyclable. The grades of glass include the following:
- Clear (flint)
- Brown (amber)
- Green (emerald)
- Mixed Colors
The contamination issues for glass are straight forward. If colors are not kept separated, there won't be a market for the materials. In addition, other contaminants that can cause problems marketing glass include ceramics, mirrors, rocks, cement, metals, window or plate glass, light bulbs or tubes, cookware, drinking glasses, automotive glass and medical waste glass. Glass must also be kept away from paper and corrugated boxes because broken glass can get imbedded into the paper and cause quality control problems at the paper mill.
The markets for glass are generally out of the state of Mississippi. The largest end-user of glass is Owen Brockway in Atlanta, Georgia. Transportation cost are high and the return on the investment can be marginal at best. Contact the Glass Packaging Institute for more information on markets for glass. A link to their website is listed in our "Recycling Links" on the Recycling webpage. There are other markets for glass which include roadbed material, additive to asphalt, and the fiberglass industry.
If you have questions, comments or need assistance regarding the processing of glass bottles for recycling, contact the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Program staff at MDEQ. |