Bizkaiko Foru Aldundia - Diputación Foral de Bizkaia

What do I achieve by recycling glass?

• I contribute to a considerable reduction in energy consumption. The energy saved by recycling one bottle would keep a 100 W light bulb on for 4 hours.
• I reduce the volume of waste dumped in a landfill. 3000 recycled bottled represent 1000 kg less of rubbish.
• I help to reduce the contamination of the atmosphere by 20%.
• I facilitate a substantial saving in water consumption.
• I protect natural resources. For every 3000 bottles recycled, one tonne of raw materials is saved. Moreover, every tonne of glass recovered means a saving of 135 litres of oil and 1.2 tonnes of caustic soda and lime.
• I avoid the proliferation of uncontrolled landfills.

How is glass recycled?

Glass is 100% recyclable.

Glass bottles collected in green recycling bins are taken to a plant where they are cleaned and crushed in order to obtain the raw material called calcín which, when mixed with sand, lime, caustic soda, etc., produces a mixture which is melted an poured into a mould to make a new bottle.