GLASS RECYCLING
Approximately 41 billion glass containers are produced in the United States each year. Since glass does not degrade, a bottle that is thrown in the landfill today may still be around in the year 3000. Glass is one of the three materials that is mandated for recycling according to the NJ Mandatory Statewide Source Separation and Recycling Act, P.L. 1987 c.102.
Glass containers represent approximately 5% of the municipal solid waste by weight and 1.5% by volume. One of the best characteristics of glass is that it features "closed loop" recycling. Every glass bottle and jar can be crushed, melted and molded into a new container over and over again, making it 100% recyclable. There are no waste by-products.
Recycling 1 glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100 watt bulb for 4 hours. Each ton of glass that is recycled saves the equivalent of 9 gallons of fuel oil. Using "cullet" (broken or recycled glass) to make glass containers allows producers to run their furnaces at lower temperatures, thereby reducing energy input and atmospheric emissions.
According to the Glass Packaging Institute, each glass container produced in the United States contains on average, 30% recycled glass.
Glass that cannot be recycled includes mirrors, window glass, ceramic cups and plates, clay flower pots, crystal, light bulbs, drinking glasses and heat resistant ovenware.
William Paterson University collects glass in the commingled container with aluminum and plastic.
If you have any questions, please call Val Weiss, WPUNJ’s
Recycling Coordinator at ext. 3248
or send him an E-mail @ weissv@wpunj.edu