Glass

Glass is made from sand, soda ash, limestone, and recycled glass (cullet), in a process, which consumes considerable energy.

Glass waste has been reduced substantially in recent years, by re-designing containers with thinner walls - called 'light weighting'.

Glass is readily re-usable, with many containers specifically designed for re-use (who hasn't got a vegemite jar in their drinking glass cupboard?).

44% of Australian glass was recycled in 1998 (ACI Glass Packaging, 2000). Recycling glass saves 74% of the energy required to make it from raw materials (Grant et al, 1999).

Kerbside collections are operated in most areas of southern Tasmania - check with your local Council. Take care not to break glass articles. Remove lids and rinse glass containers before recycling. The contractor separates Glass collected at the kerbside, so you do not need to separate it into different colours. There are recycling drop-off areas at many waste management facilities, where glass should be separated into different colours as directed.

Window glass, 'Pyrex' type glasses, light globes, laboratory glass, china and ceramics are serious contaminants in recycled glass - do not recycle. These types of glass have incompatible melting and setting properties.