Prices shown are for tonnages of container glass (essentially bottles and jars) delivered to a cullet collector who will clean and sort the glass ready for use, or for further checking, by a glassmaker.

The price paid for recycled glass tends to be relatively stable, meaning that long-term contracts come with a good degree of security. This is because the glass industry is not dependent on the export market and there is also a strong domestic market for glass.

The guide price for mixed glass typically reflects the sum that may be paid at the weighbridge by the aggregates sector and some glass industry recyclers for the mixed material.

A variety of contractual arrangements exist with local authorities who are the main provider of glass for recycling. Traditionally the main route of collection has been via bottle banks which are usually owned by the local authority or leased from a glass collector or waste management company, however increasingly the material is being collected at the kerbside.

Councils may face a charge per tonne for material collected via bring-banks. The value for the glass is then deducted from the charge resulting in a reduced overall charge/profit to the council following the deduction.