Glass Container Industry Pledges To Use 50% Recycled Glass By 2013

by | Dec 6, 2008

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glass_packaging_institute.jpgMembers of the Glass Packaging Institute have agreed to use at least 50 percent recycled glass in the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars by 2013.

GPI estimates that energy savings from using 50 percent recycled content in all glass packages made in the U.S. could save enough energy to power more than 45,000 households for a year. EPA data shows that glass recycling rates have already increased to 28.1 percent in 2007, up three percentage points from  25.3 percent in 2006.

It’s starting to cost more to move recycled glass than it was worth due to falling prices for recycled glass and increase in transportation costs, The Press of Atlantic City recently reported. As the global economy slows down, the overall demand for recyclables is falling.

Fred Neary, a representative for FCR Recycling told the Press of Atlantic City that glass costs the company money, “It has a negative value to us and most processors in this area.”

The Aluminum Association also recently set an ambitious industry wide effort to increase the industry’s recycling rate for used aluminum beverage cans to 75 percent by 2015, the same percentage that Alcoa announced as a company goal and target date in January.

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