From Guest Blogger Izzie: Uses of Recycled Glass
Ever wondered where your recycled goods go? We see them off on the first part of their journey by sorting them into recycling bins, but what becomes of them after that?
Obviously different materials will end up in very different areas, numbering likely into the thousands. Today, we are going to narrow that focus and just look at glass. It has a long history of domestic usage, being discovered in tombs dating back to ancient Egyptian times. Recycling it is something of a new invention, having only come into prominence in the last 100 years. But if you thought all your glass bottles just became glass bottles again, you would be sorely mistaken.
Bottles
That being said, a lot of them are turned back into bottles! After the glass is sorted from other trash, sorted into colours, and cleaned, it is melted down. The resulting globs of molten glass then get turned into new items,
Bottles are the most commonly made recycled glass item, as they are in high demand. You may have thought that window glass was more widespread, but how often do you buy new windows? Every 10 years? Think how many glass bottles you go through in that time!
Road Surfaces
In all likelihood, you have driven over recycled glass today. It is regularly mixed with concrete, gravel, and other such surfacing materials as it increases the material’s strength, making it less likely to crack. It can also help with reducing skidding, hence it’s use on highways and airport runways.
Recycled glass is also used in reflective paints. Its light reflecting properties make it the ideal choice for highway paint, which must remain visible even in the dead of night.
Landscaping
Recycled glass isn’t just used for practical reasons. It also has uses in aesthetic areas. For example, using glass pebbles and glass mulch has become a fixture in modern landscaping. People who have a large area of garden to fill but don’t want the pressure of grass growing can elect to have a glass feature put in. It obviously requires no upkeep, and really suits an ultra-modern home.
Work Surfaces
Finally, recycled glass has also found it’s way into interior decorating. Whereas work surfaces were once the domain of wood, plastic or marble, recycled glass has seen a rise in popularity over the past few decades. Tiny fragments of glass are combined and smoothed out into slick surface.
Recycled glass work surfaces come in a range of colours, thanks to its colour adaptability. It is ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and offices, with the added benefit of being 100% recycled and recyclable, as is all glass. This amazing material is infinitely reusable, so look to see even more uses pop up in the years to come.
