TYPES OF GLASS YOU CANNOT RECYCLE

Sadly, not all items can be recycled with your everyday jars and bottles. Don’t be a ‘wishcycler!’ It’s important to avoid ‘wishcycling’, where we toss non-recyclable items into the recycling bin in the hope that they will somehow be recycled anyway – they won’t be recycled, and they may even damage the equipment or contaminate the whole batch. The following are examples of common glass items you cannot recycle: 

Glass cookware (eg heatproof jugs, Pyrex dishes, and microwave turntables)

These are made from borosilicate – a special type of glass that withstands temperature changes. But it won’t melt properly in most ordinary furnaces and can cause serious problems in the production. 

Light bulbs

These are made of a heatproof glass, are often coated with special substances and may contain metallic components. All of this can cause problems if they’re re-melted with other types of glass. 

Window glass

Glazing is often laminated or has been treated to make it tougher – and so it needs to be processed separately from other glass types if it’s re-melted. Panes of window glass can often be recycled via separate collections at local recycling sites. 

Drinking glasses and Vases

Some of these have a different composition to ordinary bottles and jars. They may even be made of lead crystal. These glass types will cause problems and wastage in new glass if they get mixed into household recycling. 

Nail varnish bottles

These are not normally accepted with bottles and jars. While the glass might be the right type, nail varnish contains chemicals which might not be compatible with the recycling equipment in your area. In some cases, if you clean it out thoroughly using nail polish remover, you can recycle the glass part of the bottle (not the lid/brush) – if in doubt, check with your local recycling facilities or municipality 

Mirrors

The metallic coating on mirrors will cause contamination if it’s mixed with other glass types. However, many recycling sites do have a specific collection point for mirrors so that they can be properly processed separately. 

Spectacles

Don’t put old sunglasses or spectacles in with your bottles and jars for recycling. They’re not the same type of glass and have hard–to–remove metal components. 

Crystal Glass

Crystal is usually shinier than glass and is made from different minerals (such as lead-oxide, potassium carbonate, and silica), and therefore cannot be recycled together with jars and bottles. 

How to dispose of the glass that can’t be recycled?

Now that you know what glass you can and cannot recycle, you may be wondering: what do you do with all the things that you can’t easily recycle?