Even in the Corona crisis, supplies of used glass are needed

Glass recycling is one of the best functioning closed material cycles. Glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled practically 100 per cent without loss. That is why it is important that even in times of crisis in Corona, the collection and recycling of used glass is not restricted, emphasises the chairman of the trade association when asked by EM.

In general, he says, without used glass there are no new bottles and jars. The recycling of used glass is system-relevant, because large parts of glass production are based on melted down glass fragments.  It would therefore be fatal if this material flow were to be interrupted by used glass containers ending up in the residual waste because consumers shy away from going to the depot containers due to Corona. In addition to the current shortage of consumer goods, mainly due to hoarding, there would then be a supply shortage of bottles and jars.

So far, however, there have been no problems. In some cases, even higher collection rates have been registered. Due to the recommendation to stay at home and/or work in a home office, the consumption of glass containers in the private sector is increasing, which in turn could explain the higher collection rate. However, it is still too early to make a final assessment.

At the same time, the demand for cullet from glassworks remains very high. Glass containers are often preferred by pharmaceutical and food companies because of their freshness, taste neutrality and purity. Right now and more than ever, every cullet is needed to produce new glass packaging.

Marc Uphoff appeals to consumers to continue to throw waste glass into the depot containers. A cycle that no longer functions according to the principle "turn old into new" would lead to new problems in the supply of glass packaging for food and pharmaceutical products and would exacerbate the difficult situation.