Glass manufacturers are requiring more and more high-quality recycled container glass to meet market demands for new glass containers. Glass can be recycled again and again with no loss to quality or purity. The use of recycled glass saves energy, reduces emissions, and extends the life of glass-manufacturing equipment.

Glass recycling is often offered through commercial collection programs and drop-off locations. This helps ensure that the material collected yields high-quality container glass.

The glass recycling industry’s total annual economic impact in the U.S. is $634 million.

The container and fiberglass industries purchase 3.35 million tons of recycled glass annually.

Every ton of glass recycled saves large quantities of raw materials—1,300 lbs. of sand, 410 lbs. of soda ash, 310 lbs. of limestone, and 160 lbs. of feldspar.

• An estimated 80% of recovered glass containers are made into new glass containers.
• Furnace-ready recycled glass is also known as cullet.