Coach Rick Cycle is here once again to help you level up your recycling game plan with his guide to Glass Recycling!
Glass is one of the many materials that is accepted under Recycle BC’s program and is widely used in and across different products and materials.
Recycling glass helps to reduce waste in landfills and helps to conserve natural resources, as manufacturing with recycled glass uses less energy to create new glass from raw materials. Glass collected in the Recycle BC program is sold to end-markets across British Columbia.
To recycle glass, it’s imperative that we recycle it properly. Glass breaks down easily during collection. When broken glass mixes with paper and other containers, it can easily be embedded in the recycled materials that it is mixed with, rendering these materials unrecyclable.
Types of Glass Accepted
Glass comes in many forms and shapes. Some of the more common accepted glass items include:
- Non-deposit glass bottles and jars
- Salad dressings, oils, vinegars, pickles, soy sauce, etc.
Deposit glass containers for alcohol and juice are part of another stewardship program and should be returned to a depot for a deposit refund.
Types of Glass Not Accepted
Types of glass that is not accepted under Recycle BC’s program includes but is not limited to:
- Whole or broken windows and mirrors
- Dishes and cookware
- Drinking glasses
- Storage containers
- Ceramics
- Light bulbs and light fixtures
Coach reminds you that these items are not accepted in the Recycle BC program. This type of glass is made from different types of glass materials than what is commonly used to manufacture bottles and jars and interferes with the glass recycling process.
The general guideline is that if the glass is a bottle or jar, is non-deposit and clear or coloured, it’s accepted! Check Recycle BC’s full material list for additional information.
How to Recycle Glass
In some communities, residents set non-deposit glass out in a separate collection “Glass Only” container.
Residents in other communities without this type of collection can recycle non-deposit glass bottles and jars at any one of the 200+ Recycle BC depots available in BC.
The best practice with most container and glass recycling is to empty and rinse non-deposit glass bottles and jars before recycling them.
Any lids that come with non-deposit glass bottles or jars can be recycled along with plastic, metal, and carton container recycling.
Pro tip: Download the Recycle BC App to access the full material list, right at your finger tips!
