Glass - What happens to your waste and recycling?

View this page in Welsh / Gweld y tudalen hwn yn Gymraeg

Why is it important to recycle glass?

Glass is 100% recyclable and can be reused again and again without losing quality.

Making new glass requires sand, soda ash, limestone, and other materials, which must be taken from the earth. This process uses up natural resources and energy.

By recycling glass, we save these materials, use less energy, and cut down on pollution.

What happens to glass recycling after it is collected?

The Vale of Glamorgan Council collects glass recycling from residents every week.

Once collected, your glass recycling is brought by our crews to a local recycling centre.

It is then taken on to be reprocessed, where it is:

  • Mechanically colour sorted, if required;

  • Crushed and contaminants removed;

  • Mixed with the raw materials to colour and/or enhance properties as necessary;

  • Melted in a furnace;

  • Moulded or blown into new bottles or jars.

Watch the video to learn more about the process:


How is recycled glass used?

Recycled glass can be used to make a wide range of everyday products including:

  • New bottles and jars;

  • Glass wool insulation for homes, which also helps with energy efficiency;

  • Water filtration media.


View this page in Welsh / Gweld y tudalen hwn yn Gymraeg

Why is it important to recycle glass?

Glass is 100% recyclable and can be reused again and again without losing quality.

Making new glass requires sand, soda ash, limestone, and other materials, which must be taken from the earth. This process uses up natural resources and energy.

By recycling glass, we save these materials, use less energy, and cut down on pollution.

What happens to glass recycling after it is collected?

The Vale of Glamorgan Council collects glass recycling from residents every week.

Once collected, your glass recycling is brought by our crews to a local recycling centre.

It is then taken on to be reprocessed, where it is:

  • Mechanically colour sorted, if required;

  • Crushed and contaminants removed;

  • Mixed with the raw materials to colour and/or enhance properties as necessary;

  • Melted in a furnace;

  • Moulded or blown into new bottles or jars.

Watch the video to learn more about the process:


How is recycled glass used?

Recycled glass can be used to make a wide range of everyday products including:

  • New bottles and jars;

  • Glass wool insulation for homes, which also helps with energy efficiency;

  • Water filtration media.