Can You Recycle Glass Coffee Cups?
Coffee cups made of glass have become popular due to the increased awareness of reducing our plastic waste. Many people may not know, however, that glass coffee cups can actually be recycled.
The Basics on Glass Recycling
First off, it is important to be aware that different types of glass have different melting points. When glass is recycled, it needs to be properly sorted into its different types so that it can be safely melted down and turned into something new. Since glass coffee cups are often made from a different type of glass, they need to be properly sorted before they can be recycled.
Local Recycling Programs
The best way to ensure that glass coffee cups are recycled correctly is to check with your local recycling program. Every program is different and may or may not accept glass coffee cups. It’s important to properly research what is accepted by your program as some items that are usually considered recyclable may not be accepted by certain programs.
Things to Consider
Even if your local recycling program accepts glass coffee cups, it’s still important to consider a few things before recycling them.
- Is there a design on the cup?
If the cup has any type of design, such as a logo or writing, it may not be accepted due to difficulty in sorting the cups.
- Is the cup chipped or cracked?
Any cup that is chipped or cracked needs to be thrown away, not recycled.
- Is the cup coated with a plastic lining?
If the cup has a plastic lining, it cannot be recycled as it is not compatible with the recycling process.
Conclusion
Recycling glass coffee cups is an important step towards reducing plastic waste, but it needs to be done responsibly. Make sure to check with your local recycling program before attempting to recycle any glass coffee cups and to consider whether the cups have a design, are cracked, or have a plastic lining that may prevent them from being recycled.
