Script for video: Glass bottles - how are they recycled
In the UK we recycle around 60% of our glass bottles and jars but with a little effort this could be as high as 90%.
Using recycled glass when making new glass containers saves energy CO2 and raw materials, as well as reducing landfill.
After bottles are collected separated from other waste and sorted by colour they arrive at the reprocessing factory and are crushed into small pieces called cullet.
Contaminants are removed from the cullet using magnets, air suction and laser sorters.
The cullet is melted in a furnace at over 1500c and certain key ingredients are added.
Liquid glass is then divided into globs which can be blown or pressed into brand new bottles and jars and because glass is such a great material, it can recycled indefinitely.