All about glass recycling
Glass is a very old material closely linked to history and cultural techniques. It is used in crafts, architecture, as well as food packaging. It has a distant past but also a bright future because recycling glass protects the environment and preserves our natural resources. Let’s see this together.
How glass is made
In New Mexico glass is ubiquitous in our daily lives, drinking glass, mirrors, car windows, house windows… But before finding it in our hands, do you know what are the main steps in the manufacture of glass?
Glass has an amorphous structure, i.e. there is no regular arrangement of atoms. It is essentially made from the mixture of 3 elements – sand, soda and limestone – heated in giant ovens between 1300°C and 1550°C.
At this temperature, the ingredients will melt and mix to form molten, liquid, hot glass. Once melted, and before cooling, the glass is shaped using different techniques specific to each type of glass (hollow, flat, techniques, etc.).
Which types of glasses are recycled
Glass is born from glass, let’s recycle it! Of course, not all glasses are recyclable. Note that only glass packaging can be recycled, i.e. bottles, jars, jars, and flasks (mainly soda-lime glass). They must be deposited in the bins or glass containers made available by the municipalities.
Which glasses are not recycled
Beware of fake friends! Not all glass culinary crockery (transparent crockery and dishes) should be placed in the containers because it is transparent ceramic (vitroceramic). These objects have a melting temperature higher than that of glass and deteriorate the quality of production. Porcelain, ceramics, earthenware should also not join glass containers. Indeed, manufacturers inject chemicals that make them impossible to recycle. Non-recyclable glass goes to landfill to be stored or reused.
Other glasses contain dangerous products and must undergo decontamination, nor must they be thrown into a glass container: windows, bulbs, microwave tray, windshield, television screens, mirror, etc.
Glass would take 3 or 4 millennia to decompose in nature without recycling.
How is your glass waste recycled
In New Mexico, glass has been recycled since 1974. As the first link in the recycling chain, the consumer is responsible for the quantity but also the quality of the glass collected. By rigorously pre-sorting the packaging glass, we are sure that it will be 100% and infinitely recycled. So be careful not to deposit in the municipal containers provided for this purpose only the packaging glasses (bottles, pots, jars and bottles).
Waste management sorting board
There is no need to remove the labels from the glass containers before throwing them away, you have to remember to empty the bottles well and make them as clean as possible to make it easier for the employees of the sorting centers. It is best to remove caps and lids from glass containers before throwing them away, although this is not required.
The individual takes care of the first sorting of the glass, then the local authorities take care of the collection. They carry the glass to a sorting center where the glass will be sorted by size, then rid of the impurities it contains (metals, plastics, labels, corks, infusibles, etc.), and finally cleaned of organic matter. This goes through 2 different sorting stages: mechanical (manual) and optical.
Once the various stages of sorting have been completed, the glass is crushed to become cullet then remelted in glass furnaces and blown into molds to once again become packaging of the same quality.
Be careful, the industry cannot manufacture glass only from cullet. It is necessary to introduce natural raw materials in order to correct the properties of the melting bed (color, optical, mechanical properties, etc.) and thus obtain homogeneity in the quality of the manufactured product.
Why recycling glass waste is important
Recycling glass is an ecological, simple and effective gesture, within everyone’s reach. In addition, glass is the only packaging material that can be recycled indefinitely. Recycling processes are safe and harmless to the environment. They allow in particular:
- to reduce the extraction of natural resources. Today, more than half of the household packaging glass consumed in New Mexico is recycled, which represents nearly 2 million tonnes that do not go to landfill and as many raw materials saved;
- save energy, which also translates into a reduction in polluting emissions linked to energy consumption;
- a take-back commitment for real recycling fully assumed by the glass industry.
In reality, glass is never waste and, during the various recyclings it will undergo, it in no way loses its primary qualities.
What happens to glass once recycled
Once recycled – remelted and remoulded to make packaging of the same quality – the bottles, jars, jars and flasks are filled in the bottling plants and reach the distribution circuit, the stores and then the tables of consumers.
The cost of renting a dumpster in Albuquerque
Sometimes when Albuquerque residents or businesses decide to send glass waste to the nearest recycling facility, they rent a dumpster for that purpose!
The cost of renting a dumpster from a waste management company in Albuquerque varies based on several key factors. The primary determinants include the dumpster size, rental duration, type of waste, and the rental provider.
For smaller dumpsters like 10 or 15 cubic yards, you can anticipate costs ranging from $150 to $300 for short-term rentals. These sizes are suitable for small home cleanouts or minor renovation projects. If you need a larger dumpster, such as 20 or 30 cubic yards, the price might range from $300 to $600 or more. These larger containers are more fitting for significant construction or remodeling projects.
The type of waste being disposed of can also affect the cost. While some providers like Easy Albuquerque Dumpster Rentals offer a standard rate for general debris, heavier materials like concrete or hazardous waste might incur additional fees due to specialized disposal requirements.
Keep in mind that dumpster rental prices can also be influenced by seasonal demand and local regulations. It’s a wise approach to compare quotes from multiple rental companies in Albuquerque to secure the best deal. However, apart from just the cost, prioritize a rental company with a good reputation, efficient delivery and pickup, and transparent pricing to ensure a seamless dumpster rental experience.