Many of us are already used to separating our waste to send for recycling, but what happens to our glass bottles when they are taken away by the collection truck?

Recycling glass bottles is a good practice to reduce waste in landfills while preserving natural resources and reducing pollution because glass is a durable material that can be recycled indefinitely without losing its properties.

Glass recycling begins with collecting used containers, which can be of different colors, such as green, brown, or transparent. They are then taken to a recycling plant, where they are crushed and cleaned to remove any impurities.

Once the glass has been cleaned and ground, it is melted at high temperatures and molded into new containers. It uses significantly less energy and materials to produce new glass from raw materials such as sand, lime, and caustic soda. This process also reduces the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants associated with the manufacture of new glass.

At the household level, there are several practices you can adopt to ensure that glass is recycled correctly. Here are some suggestions:

1. Separate glass from other waste: The first thing to do is to separate glass from other waste, such as plastic or paper. Different containers or bags can be used for glass, facilitating its transport and subsequent recycling.
2. Wash the glass before disposal: It is important to wash it before disposal, as this removes residues and prevents material contamination. If there are labels or stickers on the glass, they should be removed before disposal.
3. Deposit glass in specific containers for recycling: Many cities and municipalities have particular containers for glass recycling. It is important to deposit glass in these containers for later recycling.
4. Avoid breaking glass: It is crucial to avoid breaking glass, as it can cause injury and contaminate the material with other waste. If the glass is broken, it should be handled carefully and disposed of in an appropriate hazardous waste container.
5. Do not deposit other materials in the glass containers: It is important not to deposit them in the glass containers, as this can contaminate the material and make it difficult to recycle.

By following these practices, we can contribute to the care of the environment and reduce the environmental impact associated with waste disposal. Remember this every time you finish a Gran Reserva Carmenere or Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc bottle!