Recycle glass only when your local program accepts it, and use the bottle-and-jar stream for empty food and beverage containers. Broken glass, Pyrex, drinking glasses, dishes, windows, mirrors, and light bulbs generally do not belong in that stream. Local rules determine whether glass goes in a curbside cart or to a drop-off site, so check with your municipality, county, or hauler first.
Which glass belongs in the recycling bin?
The usual accepted category is whole food and beverage bottles and jars, such as containers for beer, soft drinks, wine, liquor, and food. Some programs also accept glass cosmetic containers. Acceptance varies: a community may collect glass curbside, take it at a transfer station or drop-off site, or not accept it through its local recycling service.
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Check your municipality, county, or waste hauler’s instructions before putting glass in a cart. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that local recycling programs differ. Its glass recycling guidance also points people to Earth911 to look up local options.
How to prepare bottles and jars
- Empty them. Pour out contents and scrape away food residue.
- Rinse them. EPA guidance says recyclables generally need to be empty and rinsed clean of food debris.
- Follow local instructions for caps and labels. EPA says metal bottle caps should be recycled separately from glass bottles. Programs may give different directions for other caps or labels.
- Use the collection method your program specifies. Follow local rules for curbside carts, drop-off sites, bags, and contamination.
Can glass colors be mixed?
In most curbside programs, clear, green, and brown container glass can go together; the recovery facility sorts it, often by color. The EPA describes this as the common approach, but some communities have different instructions. Follow your local program’s color-sorting rules rather than assuming all colors can be mixed.
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What glass should stay out?
Do not assume glass items other than bottles and jars are accepted in the container-glass stream. EPA educational and technical materials identify these items as excluded or normally unaccepted:
- Pyrex and other heat-resistant or baking glass
- Drinking glasses, dishes, and ceramics
- Window glass and mirrors
- Light bulbs
- Windshield glass
These materials may have different compositions or belong to separate disposal streams. Check with your local solid-waste authority for the right option instead of placing them with bottles and jars.
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How should broken glass be disposed of?
Do not put broken glass in a recycling bin. The EPA warns that shards can injure workers and damage equipment. Ask your local solid-waste authority how to contain and dispose of broken glass safely; the correct method depends on local rules.
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After collection, glass is sorted, often by color, crushed into cullet, and melted to make new containers or other products. Keeping unsuitable items and broken shards out helps prevent hazards and problems in the recycling stream.
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The EPA reported that the United States generated 12.3 million tons of glass in 2018 and recycled 31.3 percent of it. Those figures are for 2018, not a current annual rate. The agency’s glass-container recycling data draw on Glass Packaging Institute information together with state environmental-agency data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to find local glass recycling rules
Start with your city or county recycling page, your waste hauler, or the local solid-waste authority. If the instructions are unclear, confirm these details before you set glass out:
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- Whether bottles and jars are accepted at all, and whether collection is curbside or drop-off
- Whether clear, green, and brown glass may be mixed
- What to do with caps and labels
- Whether containers must be bagged, and what contamination rules apply
- How to dispose of broken glass and non-container items such as windows or Pyrex
The EPA’s recycling guidance links to Earth911 for local recycling options; verify the destination’s current acceptance rules before making a trip.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PCR: Made of post-consumer recycled resin for commercial recycling use
- BUILT-IN HANDLES: Enable easier lifting and carrying
- DESIGNED TO EASILY STACK: Designed to stack or nest for increased productivity
- DURABLE: Commercial grade construction to withstand years of indoor and outdoor use
- EASY TO CLEAN: Texture and design prevent liquid and debris build up for easy cleaning
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