Benefits of glass recycling: a real potential

Glass has been part of our lives for thousands of years. Today, glass is everywhere, and it’s essential to consider its environmental impact.

Glass recycling, an essential step in sustainable waste management, plays a central role in conserving resources, reducing energy consumption and minimizing waste sent to landfill. 

At Groupe Bellemare, we’ve built up real expertise in glass recycling over the years. Our sorting centre gives a second life to countless materials, including glass.

In partnership with Enercycle, we have distributed more than 20 containers in strategic locations in the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec regions, with the aim of facilitating glass collection in these areas.

What is glass recycling?

Glass recycling involves collecting, processing and reclaiming glass products to create new ones. This process generally takes place in specialized facilities known as glass recycling plants. They serve as large-scale recycling platforms, ensuring that glass does not end up as waste or in landfills.

Types of glass

Glass recycling encompasses a wide variety of glass types, each with its own characteristics and recycling process.

Container glass: This category includes glass bottles and jars used for beverages, food and other consumer products. It is one of the most commonly recycled types of glass, due to its high quality and recyclability.

Flat glass: Flat glass is used in windows, mirrors and glass panels. It differs from container glass in thickness and composition, and requires a separate recycling process.

Fibreglass: Fibreglass is a composite material made from fine glass particles, processed into fibres, usually coated with resin or polymers. Efforts to develop more efficiently and economically viable recycling methods for this material are underway in many regions of the world.

Specialty glass: Specialty glass includes items such as laboratory glassware, light bulbs and kitchen utensils. These may have unique compositions or coatings that require specialized recycling methods.

Environmental and Economic Benefits of Glass Recycling

Resource conservation: One of the most important benefits of glass recycling is the conservation of natural resources. Glass is made from raw materials such as sand, soda ash and limestone. By recycling it, we reduce the demand for these resources, thus helping to preserve fragile ecosystems and limit mining activities.

Energy savings: The production of new glass from raw materials consumes a significant amount of energy. On the other hand, melting recycled glass requires much less.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Reduced energy consumption means lower greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling one tonne of glass saves around 315 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to a greener planet.

Job creation: Glass recycling plants create employment opportunities at various levels, from collection and transportation to processing and management. This economic benefit strengthens local communities and stimulates sustainable growth.

Glass Recycling Process in a Plant

Collection: Glass waste is collected from a variety of sources, such as collection programs, drop-off points and commercial establishments. It is essential to ensure that the glass collected is clean and free of contaminants.

Municipal sorting centre: Glass from selective collection (blue bin) must necessarily pass through a municipal sorting centre, where the materials (paper/cardboard, plastic, metal, glass) are separated and sent to the packers.

Sorting and cleaning: At the recycling plant, glass is sorted by colour (clear, brown, green) and cleaned to remove impurities such as labels, corks and residual liquids.

Crushing and melting: The cleaned glass is crushed into small pieces called cullet. The cullet is then heated to a high temperature in a furnace, where it melts and can be transformed into new glass products.

Manufacturing: Molten glass can be used to manufacture new glass containers, fibreglass or other glass-based products, depending on market demand.

What can recycled glass be used for?

Recycled glass has many applications. Here are some common examples:

• Glass container manufacturing: One of the main uses of recycled glass is the production of new glass containers, such as bottles and jars. Recycled glass can replace some of the raw materials (sand, soda ash and limestone) needed to create new glass products, thus preserving natural resources and reducing energy consumption. What’s more, glass containers and bottles can be recycled over and over.
• Fibreglass production: Recycled glass is often used to manufacture fibreglass, a versatile material used in insulation, building materials and various industrial applications. The recycling process transforms glass into fine fibres that serve as reinforcement for fibreglass composites.
• Abrasives: Ground recycled glass can be used as an abrasive material in applications such as sandblasting and abrasive cleaning. It is a less abrasive and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional abrasive materials such as silica sand. Groupe Bellemare produces its own abrasive made from recycled glass, available from many retailers.
• Road construction: Crushed recycled glass, known as glass aggregate, is used in road construction and maintenance. It can be mixed with asphalt or concrete to create durable road surfaces.
• Tiling and flooring: Some manufacturers incorporate recycled glass into their tile and flooring products. This not only adds an aesthetic element, but also improves the durability of these materials.
• Countertops and surfaces: Recycled glass can be integrated into countertops and surface materials, creating a unique, eco-friendly option for kitchen and bathroom installations.
• Glass arts and crafts: Artisans often use recycled glass to create glass artworks, sculptures, jewelry and other decorative objects. The diversity of colours and textures in recycled glass can inspire unique creations!
• Water filtration media: Crushed glass can be used as filter media in water treatment and filtration systems. It effectively removes impurities and particles from water, making it safer to drink and swim in. Discover Groupe Bellemare’s filtration glass for swimming pools.
• Landscaping and garden mulch: Recycled glass mulch, made from recycled glass, can be used in landscaping to provide decoration and weed control in gardens, flowerbeds and walkways. 
• Concrete products: Recycled glass can be added to concrete mixes to improve its properties and reduce the need for raw materials. It adds both strength and aesthetic appeal to concrete products such as countertops and pavers. One tonne of GHGs is saved every time one tonne of glass is used to replace cement powder in the manufacture of concrete.

These examples highlight the versatility of recycled glass and its ability to be integrated into a wide range of industries and products.

Future of glass recycling

The future of glass recycling is bright, and Groupe Bellemare is proud to be a leader in this industry.

Technological breakthroughs: Technological advances will play a crucial role in the future of glass recycling. Innovations in sorting and cleaning processes, as well as the design of more efficient furnaces, will improve the overall efficiency and quality of recycled glass.

Circular economy: The concept of the circular economy, in which resources are reused, refurbished and recycled again and again, is gaining ground. Glass recycling is an excellent example of how materials can be continually recycled into new products, reducing the need for primary resources.

Sustainable packaging (alternative to plastic): As consumer demand for sustainable packaging grows, glass containers are becoming increasingly popular. This trend is likely to lead to an increase in recycling efforts for this material, as industries seek to meet their sustainable development targets.

Innovative uses for recycled glass: Researchers and manufacturers are exploring innovative uses for recycled glass in a variety of industries, including construction and electronics. This diversification of applications will boost demand for recycled glass.

In conclusion, the future of glass recycling looks promising, driven by a combination of technological advances, sustainable development trends and growing awareness of environmental issues. 

Contact us

For questions about our recycled glass products or glass depots in your area, contact us!