These materials melt at different temperatures and contain additives that can adversely affect the bottle making process. Recycling glass has been in practice for hundreds of years. Glass blowers in colonial America even melted scrap glass to make new bottles. With improvements in sorting and quality control, the amount should continue to increase. The average American uses 176 glass containers each year.
Recycling also reduces the amount of natural resources that are mined to produce glass.
One interesting problem encountered by the glass industry is a weak market for green glass. This leaves the U.S. with a glut of green glass to recycle. As soon as winter fades, Grounds and Waste Management Services will be rolling out new recycling containers on The Diag. The containers, specially designed for outdoor use, were styled to look like existing litter cans and blend in with campus aesthetics. Waste Management staff recognized the need for outdoor recycling last year.