This five-page Glass Technical Paper (GTP) reviews the types of glass that can be recycled, clarifies misconceptions about recycling glass, details benefits and value creation that comes from glass recycling and outlines end-use products. Because of the potential for expanded value, increased cullet use has been cited as a key strategy towards long-term sustainability goals for many types of glass industries.
“Cullet is becoming an ever more important raw material in the landscape of US glass manufacturing,” says Kyle Sword, task group chair and R&D Director at NSG|Pilkington. “Increasing the availability and cleanliness of cullet in the US will take some collaboration and infrastructure creation, but there is clearly a path ahead of us that yields a clean, economically viable product for the glass industries.”
National Glass Association
This GTP explains the challenges and risks that come with glass recycling currently within North America, references broader global activities around cullet reuse and proposes proactive steps to maximize the value of cullet reuse. By expanding circular practices in the field of architectural glass, opportunities to strengthen local labour markets and enhance the glass industry’s reputation as an effective and sustainable solution will grow.
The following experts were part of the task group that developed the resource
Kyle Sword, NSG|Pilkington – Chair
Gin Benner, Agnora
Rob Carlson, Tristar Glass
Patrick Elmore, Infinite Recycled Technologies
Kyle Faron, Permasteelisa North America
Jon Griggs, Guardian Glass
Michael Hammond
Matt Manning, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope
Adam Mitchell, Agnora
Jeff Skaza, Eastman Chemical Company
Aaron Thompson, Viracon
DJ Weil, Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions
Stanley Yee, Infinite Recycled Technologies
Nick Yule, Viracon
Andrea Zani, Permasteelisa North America
The technical paper "Overcoming Challenges of Circularity and Architectural Glass Recycling" can be downloaded for free from the NGA Store.
