Recycling
Due to our increasing success, Specialist Glass products Ltd use a LOT of glass. This also means we generate a lot of broken glass as any one who knows anything about curving and processing glass would know. As a responsible business, we aim to recycle as much glass as possible as the benefits of doing this are enjoyed by more than just our business.
Did you know that glass recycling requires 30% less energy to melt when compared to virgin raw materials? Less energy means less fuel burnt and so less emissions. Every tonne of glass recycled is one tonne less that goes into landfill therefore saving our countryside.
It's not only business that can make a difference. Around 8% of household rubbish is glass and as of 2003, 1.4 million tones of it were stored into landfill. The cost of getting it collected and sent to landfill is £65 per tonne of glass, which amounted to £93 million of council tax. 2003 estimates show that if all glass were collected and recycled the UK could create nearly 8000 new jobs. So your empty marmalade jar could help save the planet and the economy instead of taking up space in your bin.
Recycling process
The collected glass is crushed and sorted to remove bottle lids and other contaminants. Lasers, magnets, the human eye and even digital cameras are used to remove these. To use the proper industry term, the cullet is then added with raw materials and put into a furnace to be pressed or blown into shape.
Glass recycling facts
Recycled glass has the same level of quality as that made from virgin raw materials, no matter how many times it is recycled. With over 50,000 glass-recycling banks around the UK, you can be sure there is one near you for you to put the 331 bottles and jars your average household generates. To put this into perspective, for every bottle you recycle, the energy saved is equivalent to a 60-watt bulb being switched on for almost 2 hours or a television for 20 minutes.
When compared to the rest of Europe, the UK is behind when it comes to recycling glass. This could be attributed to less glass collection points made available or the tougher approach of local authorities in Europe e.g. refusing to take rubbish with recyclable material in it.
Should you have a question or require information on your flat or curved glass project then please call us on 01484 647744
