EU glass recycling rate reaches 70%

More than 11 million tonnes of glass was collected throughout the EU in 2011, figures suggest, with the UKs glass recycling rate reaching just over 60%. All member states reached the EUs 60% recycling target for glass in 2008.

According to FEVE, reaching the 70% mark on average in the EU is saving more than 12 million tonnes of raw materials (sand, soda ash, limestone), more than seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road) and 2.5% in energy for every 10% of glass recycled in the furnace.

FEVE said the improved rates had come as a result of the glass industry designing, manufacturing and marketing containers to be effectively recycled in a closed loop system and communicating good recycling practices to consumers. Collection and processing schemes have also been extended and progressively improved.

Glass is a 100% recyclable material manufactured in a one-step process and made of natural minerals such as sand, soda-ash and limestone.

Recycling a bottle or jar into new containers can save energy and raw materials while less carbon dioxide is emitted. 80% of glass collected for recycling is used over and again to produce new glass bottles in the closed loop system.

‘More to be done’

FEVE stated: More needs to be done to collect the remaining 30% of used glass that currently is wasted, and to promote a circular economy that suits the ambitious vision of the European Commission to build a zero waste and resource efficient society.

Stefan Jaenecke, president of FEVE, said: We have no problems in absorbing more recycled glass provided that this is of high quality. Glass recycling is the key component of the circular economy – because recycling closes the loop. Glass recycling saves raw materials and energy and reduces production costs.

Rebecca Cocking, head of container affairs at FEVE-member British Glass said: Were fully committed to working in partnership with all those along the supply chain to help make glass in landfill sites a thing of the past and to ensure that recycled glass is sent to applications with positive environmental benefit such as back into new bottles and jars. We also continue to highlight the benefits of recycling glass to the consumer via the our participation in the successful Friends of Glass movement, which now has some 33,000 supporters, plus over 40,000 Facebook fans and 7,200 Twitter followers.