Is Glass Recyclable?

Yes, glass is recyclable in British Columbia, Canada. From windows to pickle jars, glass is everywhere – find answers to common questions about glass recycling below.

Recycling glass helps to reduce waste in landfills and conserves natural resources, as recycled glass can be used to produce new glass products. Additionally, recycling glass uses less energy compared to manufacturing new glass from raw materials.

Where To Recycle Glass?

Refundable Glass Drink Bottles:

Many beverage containers, including glass bottles, can be returned for a refund at all Regional Recycling depots. This includes glass bottles for wine, beer, alcohol, juice, and soda. Deposit glass containers can be returned to the depot for a full 10-cent refund. Learn more here.

Curbside Recycling Programs:

Municipalities have curbside recycling programs that accept glass bottles and jars. These glass items should be placed in designated recycling bins for pickup.

Non-deposit glass bottles and jars, typically used to package salad dressings, oils, vinegars, and pickles, are accepted in the Multi-Material BC (MMBC) residential packaging and printed paper recycling program.

This means that Regional Recycling Depots on the lower mainland wont accept these containers but Regional Recycling Nanaimo will as its part of the MMBC program.

CLEAN GLASS CONTAINERS BEFORE RECYCLING
Please empty and rinse non-deposit glass bottles and jars before recycling them. Metal lids can be recycled if they are removed and added loose to metal and plastic packaging recycling. It’s important to ensure that the glass is clean and free of any food residue before recycling.

DO NOT PUT THESE GLASS ITEMS IN BLUE BIN
Plate glass, including glass from windows, picture frames, mirrors, furniture, drinking glasses, dishes, ceramics and other glassware, is not included in the curbside recycling programs in BC because these types of glass have a different chemical composition and manufacturing process than container glass.

Why do I need to sort glass into a separate box?

Glass containers should be separated from other recyclables because they can break easily during collection. When broken glass mixes with paper and other containers, it’s harder to recycle these materials.

Where To Recycle Window Glass?

Recycling window glass in British Columbia can be a bit more challenging than recycling glass bottles and jars, as window glass is not accepted in curbside recycling programs due to its different composition. The long and short of all of this is that window glass can’t be mixed with general glass recycling. It can be either used to make more windows, or it can be ground into a powder and then used as a bulking agent in cement and concrete.

However, there are still options for recycling or properly disposing of window glass:

Reuse & Repurpose:

If the window glass is in good condition, consider donating it to organizations like Habitat for Humanity ReStores, which accept building materials for resale. This can be a good way to ensure the glass is reused.

Last Resort is the Landfill

If recycling is not an option, window glass can be disposed of at a landfill. Make sure to follow local guidelines for safe disposal, which may include wrapping the glass to prevent injury.