Glass Recycling in NZ

In recent years, the consumption of glass containers has greatly increased due to both the appeal of glass bottles as high quality and hygienic containers, and to the increased use of no-return glass bottles. As a result, the amount of glass available for recycling is at an all-time high. As 'sustainability' becomes increasingly important, calls have been made in recent years to reduce, reuse and recycle! New Zealanders have responded, and have become great recyclers, recycling glass as never before. In 2010, 66% of glass containers used in New Zealand were recycled¹. But with 97% of New Zealanders having access to recycling facilities through either kerbside collection or drop off centres, we can do even better²! In New Zealand we have our own glass manufacturing plant that has been recycling glass since 1922³! O-I New Zealand, located in Penrose, Auckland, produces 50,000 bottles per hour, working 24 hours a day and 7 days a week⁴. While they are able to do a good deal of recycling, about half of the total recovered glass in New Zealand is used as aggregate for building and roads, filtration systems and agricultural materials with a significant volume exported⁵.

Glass Packaging Forum: First Packaging Scheme to get Product Stewardship accreditation

In May 2010, Environmental Minister Hon. Dr Nick Smith presented the Glass Packaging Forum with voluntary Product Stewardship accreditation. They are the first packaging scheme to get the accreditation in New Zealand under the Waste Minimisation Act of 2008. The Glass Packaging forum is made up of over 100 companies that produce, import, fill, or sell glass in New Zealand. They have worked together to develop a voluntary scheme for reducing the amount of glass packaging making its way to landfills. The scheme collects levies from companies that import, manufacture, fill, or sell glass containers or products in glass containers. These levies are used to fund projects, research, infrastructure, and education program to increase the recycling and re-use of glass into either new glass containers or for alternative uses. The scheme currently covers 80% of glass on the market in New Zealand-mostly for food and beverage.

(http://glassforum.org.nz/product_stewardship.html)

Co-mingled Glass Recycling

Comingled recycling allows for the mixed collection of recyclable material. For example, a recycling bin containing glass, paper, and plastic is collected as ‘co-mingled’. The materials are then transported to transfer stations or recycling centres where they are separated and put through different systems for proper recycling. In the case of glass, this has led to some issues. While the introduction of co-mingled recycling has led to an increase in overall recycling levels, it has also lead to an overall decrease in the quality of recycled materials- especially that of paper and glass. Although more recyclables are collected, less good glass is recycled because it breaks down to very fine pieces during transport when loaded into the trucks and dropped off at sorting sites. A 2007 report by Covec and Environmental Resources Management estimated that co-mingled recycling has led 25-30% of recycled glass to break in transit¹.

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1.http://glassforum.org.nz/downloads/Covec_ERM_Co_mingling_report_21_03_07.pdf

Glass Recycling: Do’s and Don’ts

What types of glass CAN be recycled?

• DO recycle all glass food and beverage containers- just makes sure to wash out and food/beverage residue and remove the lid!

-Examples: beer, wine, sauce, jam bottles and jars

What types of glass CANNOT be recycled?

• DON’T recycle light bulbs and fluorescent tubes, pyrex dishes and ovenware, china and crockery - cups, saucers, plates, decorated drinking glasses, window glass, opal glass, glass bricks, medical and laboratory glass containers, TV tubes and computer screens.
• Why? Because they contain other materials that can damage or harm the quality of the new glass

(http://glassforum.org.nz/issue.html)

Updated October 2011

Glass Reprocessing

In 2005 Zero Waste NZ Trust commissioned a study of South Island recycled glass and the possibilities for re-use, (funded by the Department of Labour).  The results are available in the report below.

Market Study for Recycled Glass in the South Island (PDF 102 KB)