What Can I Recycle?
Through advances in recycling technology, you have more options than ever. And it's a good thing because we need to conserve as much of our resources as possible. In this section, you'll learn about which materials you can and can't put in your bin.
See how the actions you take affect the environment.
Experience MoreWhat can I place in my recycling bin?
Glass
Glass is endlessly recyclable, and most glass bottles and jars produced in the United States now contain at least 25% recycled glass – which also requires 75% less energy to produce than glass made from new materials. One important thing to keep in mind as you recycle glass is that even small amounts of some materials mixed in can contaminate entire loads. Find out what types of glass can and cannot be recycled. Click on the topics below for details.
More About Recycling Glass
Did you know a glass bottle can take up to a million years to decompose?
Some curbside programs and recycling centers take only certain colors of glass. That's because manufacturers who buy the glass have to maintain the integrity of the color when producing new glass.
How Is Glass Recycled?- The glass is taken to a manufacturing or recycling plant where it is broken up into smaller pieces known as "cullet."
- The cullet is crushed, sorted, cleaned, and prepared to be mixed with other raw materials.
- When glass is produced from virgin materials, it requires high temperatures to melt and combine all the ingredients. Since cullet melts at a lower temperature, the more of it you add to a batch of raw materials, the less energy needed to melt it.
- Ceramics such as coffee cups and plates present a problem in the glass-making process because they can weaken the glass. Even a small amount of ceramics can contaminate a whole batch of glass and cost the glassmaker millions of dollars.