Video: Can I Recycle That? Glass

 

Is glass recyclable? Short answer: most of the time. Not all glass products are equal when it comes to recycling. Learn how to recycle your glass bottles and jars by watching this video!

 

Can I Recycle That? How to Recycle Glass

 

Let’s be clear: glass bottles and jars are great to recycle. They should be whole and empty. Drink bottles of any color are okay. Recycling programs can be glass-only or single stream. When it’s single stream, all materials are mixed together. It’s a pickle jar’s idea of a party!

 

Not all glass is invited to the party, though. Drinking glasses, ceramic, mirrors, windows, and light bulbs should never go in your recycling bin. Donate or repurpose these items instead. Your city may have an alternative for disposal too.

 

At the sorting facility, glass bottles and jars are separated. During this process, glass can break. Fortunately, broken glass is recyclable at this stage. When glass moves from sorting to processing, it might even be broken down further to prepare it to become something new.

 

More Recycling Resources

 

Once you’ve watched the video, check out these fun activities and lessons.

 

Lesson Plan: Fundamentals of Waste

Help high school students understand why waste management is a critical issue for a sustainable future. This lesson takes about an hour to complete.

 

Lesson Plan: Something From Nothing & the 3 Rs

This one is for the younger crowd. They’ll learn a new and exciting way to limit the amount of waste they produce by reusing it for something completely different!

 

Free Digital Slideshow: The Ins and Outs of Recycling

Getting ready to talk to your students about recycling? Need to lead a meeting about bringing recycling to your school? You’ll love this free recycling slideshow! It’s available in PowerPoint or Prezi.

 

Lesson Plan: The Life Cycle of Recycling

Have you ever considered what happens to an aluminum can after you drop it into the recycling bin? In this science and language arts lesson, students explore the life cycle of recycling.

 

Free Checklist: Try the 30-Day Zero Waste Challenge

Try the 30-Day Zero-Waste Challenge checklist. It’s full of small ways to make a difference. Help students build a low-waste recycling lifestyle that will stick.