Recycling glass containers with lids has a significant positive influence on the environment compared to disposing of them in landfills. Recycling these glass containers helps conserve energy, and reduce global warming or waste in the environment. In this article, we discussed the importance of having recycled glass storage jars and answered some common questions people ask about recycling glass jars.
Why it is Important to Recycle Glass Storage Jars
Unlike plastic containers that can degrade with time, glass containers can be recycled countlessly while retaining their properties and quality. When a glass is recycled, the end product can be a bottle, jar, window, door or any other form of glass product. This process enhances the rate of natural resources and energy conservation. According to studies, the amount of energy saved when a glass container is recycled can charge a smartphone for a year or run three cycles of a washing machine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Recycled Glass Storage Jars
1. Can Broken Glass Be Recycled?
Broken glass is recyclable. It is advised to sort the pieces of the glass containers with lids and remove any sharp pieces that can easily injure the workers sorting or recycling the glass.
2. What Happens to Glass After it’s Been Recycled?
Glass containers with lids are sorted by colour and smashed into smaller pieces referred to as “cullets,” which go through the process of melting in a furnace at an extremely high temperature. The melted glass is shaped into different glass products such as glass countertops, windows, fibreglass insulation, jars and bottles (like wedding favour jars or Bonta jars).
3. What Can You Do With Recycled Glass Storage Jars?
Recycled glass storage jars can serve various needs from being ideal storage and preservative items to decoration. Below are a few examples of what you can do with recycled glass storage jars:
- It can be used to store dry food and seasonings like grains, coffee beans, pasta, cereals, or spices.
- It can be used as pickling jars to preserve vegetables and fruits.
- It can be filled with chocolates, dried fruits or cookies and decorated as a gift for a loved one.
- You can use it as a wedding favour.
- Low-profile jars serve as bathroom storage for makeup brushes, cotton swabs, bath salts etc.
- Recycled jars can be used in craft projects as vases, terrariums, snowglobes, candles or brush holders.
4. Can All Glass Jars Be Recycled?
Not all glass jars can be recycled due to some reasons associated with the glass jars’ properties that is why it is necessary to always consult your local recycling guidelines. Generally, some items and glass barely get recycled alongside glass containers. Below are a few:
- Heat-resistant glass: This is also referred to as Pyrex. Due to their composition, they can easily contaminate the recycling stream.
- Lids: Not all recycling initiatives accept glass jars with lids, hence it’s best to remove lids and recycle them separately from the glass jars.
- Window glass or mirror: These require specialised processing and shouldn't go in with regular glass during the recycling process.
5. How Do You Recycle Jars at Home?
Here are the following ways you can recycle glass jars at home:
- Before achieving the goal of having a recycled glass jar in your home, you will need a recycle bin. To get a dedicated glass recycle bin that serves, do the necessary research and consultation before purchasing one.
- Clean thoroughly and rinse in warm water to get rid of food particles
- For glass jars with lids(metal), remove the lids and recycle them separately in the metal recycling bin.
- Dry the glass jar completely and place it in the glass recycling bin.
6. What Are the Ways to Recycle Glass Containers with Lids?
Curbside recycling is one effective way to recycle glass jars with lids. This process requires the separation of the recyclables based on their properties (glass containers and lids). Another method is through drop-off recycling initiatives.
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