Glass for Europe published a Q&A on the fundamentals of flat glass recycling

In anticipation of the upcoming Circular Economy Act, Glass for Europe publishes a Q&A that delves into the fundamentals of flat glass recycling.

The flat glass industry is promoting the development of a closed-loop recycling system that would enable it to recover high-quality secondary raw materials. But recycling flat glass at scale is not simply a matter of collecting more glass. The quality of the cullet is critical: contamination, mixed waste streams and the way glass is collected and processed can all determine whether recovered glass can be returned to flat glass production.

Glass for Europe’s new Q&A “Understanding Flat Glass Recycling” explains how flat glass recycling works, what makes cullet suitable for new flat glass production, and where the main challenges and opportunities lie. It also looks at how better collection, sorting, processing and preparation of end-of-life building flat glass can help increase the availability of high-quality cullet.

As the European Commission prepares the Circular Economy Act, the Q&A highlights the measures that can help move flat glass recycling from potential to practice. A stronger focus on closed-loop recycling can reduce the loss of valuable material, lower the need for virgin raw materials and support the flat glass industry in its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

You can find the Q&A in the dedicated circular economy section of the website under “Highlights” or read it here.