Glass
Glass is defined as 'a hard, transparent material, used to make windows, bottles, and other objects'[1]. It is formed from a melt by cooling to rigidity without crystallization and is a usually transparent or translucent material consisting typically of a mixture of silicates'[2].
Glass is a resource that can be continuously recycled without a decline in quality. The four main constituents of glass are sand, soda ash, limestone and other additives for colour or special treatments, these materials are not in shortage but the quarrying required to obtain them is energy-intensive and has consequential environmental impacts[3].
Glass Waste Arisings by Economic Classification (UK 2020)
Glass Waste Arisings
- 2,392.34 thousand tonnes (UK 2020 per above)
- 2050.40 thousand tonnes (England 2020)
- 85.7% of tonnage was from England
Data source: [4]
Glass Waste Arisings (Waste Category and Economic Classification)
Commercial and Industrial* | UK 2020 | England 2020 | England 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
Manufacturing | 34.83 | 17.99 | 28.91 |
Water Treatment | 0.61 | 0 | 0 |
Services | 631.87 | 504.16 | 521.77 |
Total | 667.32 | 522.15 | 550.68 |
% Total and % England | 27.9% | 78.2% |
Municipal Solid Waste* | UK 2020 | England 2020 | England 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
Services | 631.87 | 504.16 | 521.77 |
Household | 1,640.53 | 1,457.70 | 1,425.86 |
Total | 2,272.40 | 1,961.86 | 1,947.62 |
% Total and % England | 95.0% | 86.3% |
All figures in thousand tonnes. Data source: [4] * See data limitations
Glass Waste Arisings Trends
Notes
- England represents c. 86% of UK Glass Waste Arisings
- England trend is shown as the data runs to 2022, whereas UK data only runs to 2020 at the current time
- Packaging Glass for the UK are shown for both arisings and recovery/recycled (69.8% in 2022)
Data source: [4]
Glass Grades - Overview
Glass is typically graded by colour (clear, green, brown, mixed) and part-processed crushed glass is termed cullet. Simpler Recycling grades are categorised as 'glass packaging including bottles and jars'.
Local Authority Waste
The Top 10 Authorities removing Glass.
Glass includes the following sub groups of material: Green glass, Mixed glass, Clear glass, Brown glass
| FY | AUTHORITY | OPERATOR | ADDRESS | TONNES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/24 | Cornwall | Multiple destinations | Multiple | 38,096.0 |
| 23/24 | Wandsworth LB | Site details not known | Unknown | 16,464.0 |
| 23/24 | Somerset Council | Recresco Limited - Cwmbran | Recresco Limited, Cwmbran Depot , Springvale Industrial Estate, Cwmbran | 16,295.0 |
| 23/24 | Lambeth LB | Site details not known | Unknown | 13,642.0 |
| 23/24 | Stoke-on-Trent City Council | Site details not known | Unknown | 13,383.0 |
| 23/24 | Maidstone Borough Council | Multiple destinations | Multiple | 12,376.0 |
| 24/24 | Glasgow City | Not Available | Not Available | 12,363.0 |
| 24/24 | Fife | Not Available | Not Available | 11,946.0 |
| 23/24 | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | Site details not known | Unknown | 11,894.0 |
| 23/24 | Bromley LB | Veolia E S Cleanaway ( U K ) Ltd | Rainham Recycling And Reclamation Centre, Coldharbour Lane, Off Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex | 11,639.0 |
