Separating Clear and Colored Glass

We were recently asked, “Why does colored glass have to be separated from clear glass?”

To recycle glass at the WWRA, use one of our designated marked drop off bins. Do NOT recycle glass in comingled recycling or curbside bins. Colored and clear glass are separated to keep the glass quality intact. Colored glass is sorted out so that manufacturers using recycled glass can achieve a specific color and clarity for their products. By keeping clear glass separated, it makes recycled glass more pure in clarity and is more likely to be purchased and reused. This ensures glass is kept in our economy and out of the landfill by increasing its Recyclability. Want to learn more about the difference between recyclable and recyclability? Click here!

Recyclability: The ability to collect, sort, and process a material to be made into new products. Recyclability composes many aspects, such as material quality, cost, ease, and access to recycling centers. You can increase a product’s recyclability by rinsing all product residue off packaging, separating glass, only recycling accepted items, and not bagging your recyclables