Glass bottles are frequently used to package liquids like soda, juice, beer, and wine, and are accepted in most curbside recycling programs. So why is the glass recycling rate (34 percent) half that of aluminum cans (67 percent)? We definitely have work to do.

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Most large cities accept glass in their curbside recycling programs, but you’ll want to verify acceptance locally. Due to the costs of transportation, risks of breakage, and low commodity value, some communities choose not to accept glass.

No, bottles and jars are recyclable regardless of shape.

Glass bottles originate from sand, and would be clear by default. During the manufacturing process, the addition of metals like cobalt or iron will change the color, but this isn’t just for aesthetic appeal. Darker glass reflects more sunlight, which is why you’ll see beers and wines in brown and green bottles to protect them from sun damage over time. In the recycling process, bottles must be separated by color because you can’t recycle clear bottles and brown bottles together.

Kind of. In 10 states, there is a container deposit law. In those states, consumers pay a per-container fee for soda, beer, and bottled water, which is refunded when empty containers are returned to a drop-off site. So, if you collect glass in one of these states, each container is worth a nickel or dime.

At a materials recovery facility, glass is separated from other materials like metal and paper, then sent to a glass processor. It’s sorted by color and any contaminants are removed. The glass is then crushed into small pieces called cullet, which is heated to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit and molded into new glass containers.

No, but as previously mentioned, 10 states do have container deposit laws where consumers pay a fee for each glass bottle that is returned if they are recycled. This is a way of incentivizing recycling.

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