Glass Facts

PLACE YOUR unUSED Glass IN YOUR BLUE BAGS FOR MUNCIE SANITARY DISTRICT TO PICK UP OR TAKE IT TO EAST CENTRAL RECYCLING AT 701 E. CENTENNIAL AVE.

Glass containers are 64% clear, 23% brown, and 13% green.
41 billion glass containers were produced in the U.S. in 1992.
All glass food and beverage containers can be recycled.
Recycling a glass jar saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.
All newly purchased glass food jars contain at least 35% recycled glass.
In 1994, approximately 13.3 million tons of glass waste was generated in the U.S. Food and beverage containers made up 91% of this amount: the remainder came from products like cookware and glassware, home furnishings, and plate glass.
Glass constituted 6.3% of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream in 1994.
About 25.8% of all glass food and beverage containers were recycled in 1994. Glass had an overall recovery rate of 23.4% that same year.
Most of the glass recovered in the U.S. is used in new glass containers. A portion is also used in fiberglass and “glasphalt” for highway construction.
Approximately 8 out of 10 households recycle, and those that do 82% recycle glass bottles and jars
80% of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles. A glass container can go from a recycling bin to a store as little as 30 days.
Energy cost drop about 2-3% for every 10% of cullet (recycled broken or waste glass) used in the manufacturing process.
39% of beer and soft drink bottles were recovered recycling in 2009
For every 6 tons of recycled glass, one ton of carbon dioxide creation is avoided.
Bottles and jars made from glass are 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss of quality.
The use of recycled glass is more environmentally friendly than new glass. Recycling just one glass bottle saves enough energy to a light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours, or power a television for 20 minutes.

Content on this page provided by Second Time Around – EPA Region 5 and Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University and www.thebalance.com