Glass is an extraordinary material, infinitely recyclable without loss of quality. But not all glass is the same, as can be seen from its different colors, which testify to the presence of different chemical elements.
For this reason it is crucial to promote the separation of clear glass and dark glass in order to streamline the recycling process.
The importance of ultra-differentiated waste collection
Every year, in Italy, approximately 2,4 million tons of glass waste are produced, but only 77,4% is actually recycled. This means that almost a quarter of the material ends up in unsorted waste or landfill.
The separation and correct recycling of glass would allow us to reduce such waste, save resources (in terms of energy and raw materials) and limit carbon dioxide emissions.
When clear and dark glass are mixed in the recycling process, the result will always be dark glass. If you want to obtain new clear glass, you need to separate the two types already in the collection phase, thus avoiding having to add more virgin raw materials to obtain a high-quality final product.
The Friulian model
Since 2021, Friuli Venezia Giulia has been the first Italian region to introduce the separate collection of glass by color. Thanks to the project “My glass is different”, the old containers have been replaced with new bins dedicated to the separation between clear glass and dark glass, improving recycling efficiency and reducing treatment costs.
The “returnable container” solution
As highlighted in a previous content, another suitable method for enhancing the circular economy is the returnable container system, which has already demonstrated its value in several European countries.
The system incentivizes consumers to return used containers in exchange for a refund, reducing waste dispersion and increasing the recovery rate.
The commitment of citizens and institutions, combined with the adoption of more advanced collection models, can really make the difference, crowning glass as exemplary material in a circular economy perspective.
Source: ambienteambienti.com
