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Using present technology the UK glass industry has the capacity to recycle over one
million tonnes of glass each year. Coupled with the material’s unique ability to
be infinitely recycled without compromising its quality this creates a compelling
case for the recycling of glass. Glass makes up around 7% of the average household
dustbin and in 2001 over 2.5 million tonnes of this material was landfilled.
Glass can be recycled indefinitely as part of a simple but hugely beneficial process
because its structure does not deteriorate when reprocessed. In the case of bottles
and jars, up to 80% of the total mixture can be made from reclaimed scrap glass,
called "cullet".
If recycled glass is used to make new bottles and jars, the energy needed in the
furnace is greatly reduced. After accounting for the transport and processing needed,
315kg of CO2 is saved per tonne of glass melted. Recycling reduces the demand for
raw materials. There is no shortage of the materials used, but they do have to be
quarried from our landscape, so from this point of view, there are environmental
advantages to recovering and recycling glass. For every tonne of recycled glass
used, 1.2 tonnes of raw materials are preserved.
Recycling reduces the amount of waste glass which needs to be landfilled. Although
glass is inert and is not directly hazardous to the environment, it will remain
there indefinitely.
Taking part in recycling the waste we produce makes us think about the effect we
are having on our environment and enables us to contribute towards a greater level
of sustainability.
We at National Waste Solutions are able to offer a dedicated
recycling collection service. For more information and prices, please call us on
the number above or e-mail us at enquiries@nationalwastesolutions.co.uk and one
of our experienced team will contact you to discuss your requirements.
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