Facts About Recycling Glass: Benefits, Challenges, and Practices

Here’s the truth: all glass is 100% recyclable. Unlike other materials, you can recycle glass again and again without any loss in quality! Yet, only a third of U.S glass is recycled, meaning the rest is dumped in a landfill for centuries to come. Here are the benefits of recycling glass and how to do it right.

The Impact of Glass on the Environment

First, the primary benefit of recycling glass is not having all that glass taking up space in a landfill, which makes no sense when it’s perfectly good (and in-demand) recycled material.

Water pollution is also cut in half whenever we use recycled glass to make new glass, which matters for everything from our drinking water to our oceans. By choosing to recycle glass, you’re protecting the world we all share and your health.

Reusing Glass Cuts Business Costs

If you run a business, we don’t have to tell you things can get expensive fast, especially purchasing or repairing equipment. Creating new glass can increase the wear on machines. Using recycled materials means less stress on the equipment, which over time cuts costs and increases profits.

Recycling Glass Creates Jobs

Did you know that for every 1,000 tons of glass recycled, approximately eight people are hiredre hired for industry-related jobs? The pandemic hit our community hard, with many New Yorkers finding themselves out of work. By recycling glass, you’re not only saving the environment but also helping local families put food on the table. And we think that’s a win-win situation for everyone.

What You Need to Know About Recycling Glass in New York City

Now that you know why recycling glass is so important, here are a few things to keep in mind before collection day.

Keep it Clean

Don’t forget to give a quick rinse to all your jars and bottles before putting them in the bin. We hate to throw away perfectly good glass! Please take 10 seconds to give it a rinse.

Be Careful With Broken Glass

Imagine this: you’re getting ready to take out the recycling when you trip, smashing all those jars into 1,000 tiny pieces. Instead of putting it in a box clearly labeled “broken glass,” as you should, you attempt to carry it out to the curb. Suddenly, all the sharp edges of the glass cut through the bag, and it breaks. Put the broken glass in a sealed cardboard box.

Sort Your Recycling Correctly

Don’t just throw all your recycled materials into the same bin. If your bottles, newspapers, and plastic are all in one giant bin together, they could end up in a landfill.

Follow New York City recycling rules and place the glass into the correct containers.

Glass is one of the easiest materials to recycle, providing numerous environmental and economic benefits. By following city recycling rules, you can make sure your business is doing its part for the environment and communities.