What you can do to help recycle glass

• If a bottle is returnable it is usually preferable to return it, rather than to recycle it.
• Rinse the bottles or jars - ideally in washing-up water you have in the bowl anyway.
• Wherever possible, remove metal or plastic tops, corks and rings from bottles or jars. Any tops which remain will be removed by magnets, vibratory screens or other methods, but they can cause damage to furnaces if any get through.
• Recycle all glass containers, not just drinks bottles. Containers which hold food, pharmaceutical and household items which are made of glass are all recyclable.
• Never deposit light bulbs or cookware such as 'Pyrex' or 'Visionware'. These have different properties to the glass used to make bottles and can contaminate a load, resulting in a sub-standard finished product. Flat glass, such as window glass, whole or broken, should not be put in bottle banks either - see below.
• Make sure that you put the bottles in the correct bank - clear, green or brown. Most importantly, ensure clear glass is not contaminated with colours as this will considerably reduce the value as a higher price is paid for uncontaminated clear glass. Bottles made from blue glass can be put in the green glass bank. Bottles with a coloured coating can be recycled as any finishes added later will burn off in the furnace. To find the original glass colour check the top of the bottle where the cap was and put the bottle in the appropriate bank.
• Try to plan your trip to bottle banks along with other essential activities such as going shopping or to school. This way the environmental impact of the journey is kept to a minimum.
• Do not leave any boxes or bags at the bank that you have used to bring your glass in, there is normally a bin provided for these. Try to use bottle banks during the day, to avoid disturbing the local