UK glass recyclers want export cut

Municipalities in the UK are being urged to review their contracts for recovered glass with large amounts being exported for recycling.

British Glass (BG), which represents the UK industry,  is calling on local authorities to consider the destination of collected waste glass to support the UK circular economy and industry decarbonisation efforts. It says glass is 100% recyclable when compared to alternative packaging materials that can often contain single-use plastic linings. Using recycled glass, or cullet, in glass production can also lead to significant emissions savings. 

‘For every tonne of recycled glass used to produce new products, there is approximately a 250 kg reduction in CO₂ on site,’ BG insists. ‘Alongside supply chain reductions, this can lead to a 580 kg reduction of carbon emissions.’

Cullet export

It is concerned that large quantities of unprocessed cullet are currently being exported from the UK as part of local authority waste management contracts. The export of glass cullet for remelt rose by 79 000 tonnes last year, a 31% increase compared to 2021. Nearly a quarter (24%) of remelt glass is now exported, resulting in an increase in UK site emissions of 52 000 tonnes of CO₂ at an additional £8m in energy and carbon cost to the UK glass industry. 

Dave Dalton, ceo of British Glass, says: ‘There is an opportunity to make the most of high recycling rates of glass in the UK – 73.6% for glass in 2021 versus 44.2% for plastic – and ensure glass manufacturers have access to affordable recycled materials. This would generate emissions savings from an energy intensive industry today, whilst simultaneously reducing the use of single-use plastics. 

‘Longer term, investment in the national grid is ongoing and it is essential that energy intensive industries like glass can access enough energy resource to implement hydrogen and hybrid technologies effectively. When glass manufacturing processes shift away from natural gas, and recycling cullet reduces the need to extract as many raw materials, glass manufacturing can be a leading example of a sustainable circular economy.’