Did you know …
- Collected glass is heavy to transport. In east central Illinois, collected glass is very expensive to transport over the long distances necessary to reach glass processors for recycling.
- A substantial portion of glass collected in our local curbside
collection recycling programs may end up in a landfill
because it is contaminated by the other waste materials it is mixing within the collection process.
- One way to avoid this contamination is to utilize a system that allows for a source-separated collection of glass
(i.e., glass-only collection bins).
- In 2022, CCES continues to explore the implementation of a sustainable, local separate source glass recycling
program.
- CCES wants to better understand residents’ concerns and preferences about glass bottle/container recycling.
Facts About Glass Recycling
- Glass is infinitely recyclable without loss of quality or purity.
- An estimated 31% – 33% of glass containers in the U.S. are recycled.
- An estimated 8 million tons of glass was landfilled in the U.S. in 2018, approximately 5.2% of all solid municipal waste landfilled that year.
- Close to 66% of glass waste is landfilled in states without bottle redemption programs.
- Close to 95 million tons of CO2 is emitted worldwide annually from glass manufacturing.
- Using 10% more recycled glass in manufacturing lowers CO2 emissions by 5%.
Visit these websites for facts and figures about glass recycling:
