What do I do with…?

Pile of Empty Brown Glass Bottles

Glass

What is Glass? Glass is made of three abundant naturally occurring raw materials: sand, soda ash, and limestone. Glass is inert, impermeable, chemically stable, and does not leach toxic chemicals. It is harmless to the environment and to human health.

Why is glass waste a problem? So much glass is ending up in the landfill when it could be reused or recycled. This results in the need to constantly replace or create new glass products that are resource intensive, as well as increased landfill volume.

Examples: bottles (soda, juice, beer, wine, liquor), jars, containers, windows, doors, tables, electronic screens, vials, vases, lightbulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers, cookware and dishes

Reduce

  • Buy a refillable growler for your beer

  • Buy in bulk or find places that allow you to refill your glass jars and containers

  • Aluminum and tin is more easily recycled in our area, consider buying beverages and other food items that come packaged in those materials when reuse is not an option.

Reuse

  • DIY projects: wind chime, mosaics, candle holders, plant holders

    • Get a personal glass cutter and make cups from bottles

  • Bayern Brewing accepts 12 oz brown glass bottles.

    • Criteria: No twist off lids, no embossing, no sticker labels

    • Back to the Mother also gets their bottles through bayerns bottle reuse program.

  • Glass containers with two inch lid are accepted for reuse at Good Food Store

  • Nourishing Cultures bottles their kombucha in reusable mason jars.

Recycle

  • Recycling Works provides glass recycling residential pick up service

    • They accept all clear and colored jars and bottles that have been rinsed with no food or other residue left behind.  No lids or caps.

Glass recycling facts

  • >1 ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled

  • Glass is the only packaging material certified by the U.S.F.D.A as “generally regarded as safe.”

  • 1 ton of CO2 is reduced for every 6 tons of recycled container glass

  • Food-grade glass is 100% recycled and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quantity or purity