What happens to glass after I put it in the blue box?

Glass is one of five mandatory items that the Region of Waterloo collects in the blue box for diversion, as regulated by the Province of Ontario (Ontario Reg. 101/94).  In addition to these mandatory items (i.e. glass, newspapers, aluminum cans, steel cans, and PET/#1 plastic), the Region collects and diverts many more items through the blue box program: fine paper, cardboard, boxboard, all other plastic bottles, tubs and lids #2-7, aluminum packaging and foil, empty paint and aerosol cans, milk cartons, and drinking boxes. 

Approximately 3,000 tonnes (over 6.6 million pounds) of glass are collected through the Region’s blue box program each year.  Unfortunately, there are limited opportunities in the Province of Ontario for traditional glass recycling, where old glass becomes new bottles and jars. In the past, the Region was able to sell glass to recyclers (and even went to the effort of separating clear glass from coloured glass to increase the value of our material). But in recent years, the Region has had to give away glass to recyclers for free, and currently, we would have to pay the recyclers to take our glass. 

But recycling is only one of the 3Rs options for diversion.  The Region still carefully separates the glass collected in the blue box, and puts it aside for reuse. When laying pipe for the landfill gas collection system or building landfill roads, the glass is mixed with rubble, concrete, and crushed toilets (more reuse!) and used in place of gravel.  By reusing the glass this way, the Region doesn’t have to pay a recycler to take it, and also saves about $50,000 per year by not buying gravel to use at the landfill.   

The glass does technically end up in the landfill, but it is there in place of gravel needed to line pipe beds and create roads. It is still diverted, because it’s being reused instead of wasted and buried with the garbage.  The Province of Ontario recognizes and approves of this reuse alternative for glass, and still credits the Region of Waterloo with diverting all the glass handled in this way. 

So what should I do with my glass? When buying, consider items packaged in plastic instead of glass. The Region has well-established markets for turning plastic bottles, containers, tubs and lids #1-7 into new products.   And if you do have a glass bottle or jar, please continue to place it in the blue box.  While in today’s economic climate it may not become a new bottle or jar, we are reusing it in other ways that still benefit our community. (And remember to Bag it Back!  All LCBO glass and beer bottles should be returned to the Beer Store.) We continue to monitor the recycling markets for opportunities to recycle glass in a financially responsible way, and will make changes when possible.

Want to see for yourself? The Region of Waterloo offers free public tours of our landfill several times a year; our next tour date is Saturday, October 26. Come see the Nyle Ludolph Materials Recycling Centre, where we sort all the items from your blue box, including glass. Visit the active area of the landfill where we handle the garbage that we don’t have diversion options for.  Talk to Waste Management Division staff about all our programs and services, and the important role that diversion plays in handling our community’s waste.  The tour is free, just call to reserve a seat on the bus:
519-883-5100 ext. 8449.

For more information:

Cari Rastas Howard, Project Manager, Waste Management Programs

choward@regionofwaterloo.ca  519-883-5100 ext. 8412