Glass Recycling Facts
Clear, green or brown bottles - including wine, beer, juice, soft drink and sauce bottles
Glass jars - such as those from jams and spreads
Ceramic plates, cups and crockery - such as pyrex and corning ware
China
Light Globes
Mirrors or window glass
Medical or laboratory glass
Broken drinking glasses
Check with your council for details on glass recycling in your area.
Remember, all glass for recycling should be rinsed and have lids removed. Leaving the label on is OK
What is glass made of?
In its original form, glass comes from three main virgin materials: sand, silica and limestone. Most glass manufactured in Australia does not use 100% raw materials. Instead, a percentage of recycled glass is utilised in the manufacturing process.
How is glass made?
All of the virgin or recycled materials are melted in a furnace at a heat of about 1500 degrees Celsius. The ingredients are melted into a liquid, or molten form that is then dropped into a mould. Air blowing into the mould creates the shape of a bottle or jar. Once cooled, the bottles and jars are ready to be filled.
How does recycling glass save energy?
The glass recycling process produces a crushed glass product called 'cullet'. Cullet is often mixed with virgin glass materials to produce new end products.
Making new glass from recycled cullet saves energy because recycled glass melts at a lower temperature than virgin raw materials. Because the materials do not need to be heated as much, less energy is required in