Glass bottles and jars are recycled through our curbside program. Different glas products, such as drinking glasses, window glass, and ceramics require the addition of ingredients that are considered contaminants in the glass recycling process, so these materials are not collected for recycling.
Strategic Materials in Delevan, Wisconsin is one example of a location where Milwaukee glass is shipped for recycling.
The glass is processed into cullet, which are small peices of clean glass that are ready to be processed into new products. This material is sold to facilities that will melt the glass and create new glass jars and bottles, some of which supply breweries right here in Milwaukee! Other products made from recycled glass include fiberglass and small glass beads used in reflective paint for highway striping.
Secrets From The Recycling Plant: How A Used Bottle Becomes A New Bottle from Planet Money on Vimeo.
Learn more about glass recycling and check out educator resources below.