Glass bottles and jars are an integral part of any community recycling program. Recycling diverts this valuable resource from landfill. Plus, consumers expect glass to be included in their local recycling program.
Get the basic “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for recycling glass containers—what to include in your recycling bin and what to keep out. Then find a program in your community for recycling glass bottles and jars.
Glass Recycling Basics
Follow these simple steps when recycling glass bottles and jars. Keep out non-container glass and other contaminants to ensure the glass you recycle is able to be used to make new glass bottles.
1. Recycle Glass Containers Only
- Check to make sure it’s a bottle or jar.
- Iced tea and soda bottles
- Food jars
- Beer bottles
- Wine and liquor bottles
- Juice and water containers
Curbside Recycling and Drop-Off Centers
Most glass bottles and jars recycled in the community are collected through curbside or drop-off recycling program.
Curbside
At the curb, glass may be set out separated from other materials or in a bin with other containers. A growing number of communities collect all recyclables in one bin, called “single-stream” recycling. Most glass containers collected at the curb are not color separated.
Drop-Off Centers
Residents may also recycle glass at drop-off centers located throughout their community. Glass is typically kept separate for high quality, and may even be collected by color—green, amber/brown, and clear.
Mandatory Beverage Container Deposits
In 11 states, glass bottles are collected through a mandatory beverage container deposit program. Residents pay a deposit on glass bottles and other containers and then return them to a collection center for redemption.
Laws and deposit amounts differ from state to state, but all tend to:
- Improve the quality of glass collected for recycling.
- Increase the percentage of containers going to bottle-to-bottle recycling.
- Exclude some glass containers (like wine and liquor bottles).
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Use our Carbon Calculator to find out how much energy you can save by recycling your glass containers.
About the institute
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is the trade association representing the North American glass container industry. Through GPI, glass container manufacturers speak with one voice to advocate industry standards, promote sound environmental policies and educate packaging professionals. GPI member companies manufacture glass containers for food, beverage, cosmetic and many other products. GPI also has associate members that represent a broad range of suppliers and closure manufacturers.
