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.

----

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