Guide to Glass Recycling for Kids
Written by: Bill Herren
We use and see through glass every single day. From the mirrors we look at to get ready in the
morning, to the bottles we drink orange juice out of, glass is everywhere. What happens when we
don't need glass anymore, like when we have finished our drink? Some people throw the bottles
into the garbage with the rest of the trash, but that's not what should be done. Glass can be
cleaned and reused to make new bottles over and over again so it's never wasted. By taking a few
minutes of your day to put glass into the recycling bin at home, school, or elsewhere, you can
keep the Earth safe and clean for many years to come.
What is Glass and How is it Made?
Glass is a combination of rocks and minerals (like silica or lime), that when heated together then
cooled create the hard material we see today. When the minerals are heated they become a liquid,
which is why some types of glass just look like solid water. Because glass starts out as a liquid, it
can take on many different shapes and sizes before it cools down and becomes solid. Depending
on how it is handled, glass can be reflective like a mirror or darker like some drinking bottles.
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Is Glass a Mineral? Glass has a unique structure which makes it different from other solid
items!
Ask a Scientist – How is Glass Made?: Glass starts out as a liquid and then becomes
solid.
Why is Glass Transparent? You can't see through all glass – some simply reflect other
light similar to diamond crystals.
What is Glass?: Glass from start to finish and what it can be used for.
What is Glass Used For?
Glass can make many different things that we see and use every day. Mirrors, windows, bottles,
glasses, and many decorations are made using glass and other materials too. When you coat one
side of glass with something reflective like silver, it creates a mirror so you can see yourself and
even scientists can use mirrors to do experiments. When glass is made into tiny strands, they can
be linked together to create fiberglass, which is a strong and light material.
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What is Glass Used For?: We can use it for containers, windows, mirrors, glasses,
decorations, and more.
Technology and Inventions ~ Glass: The history of glass and what can be done with it.
How Glass Bottles Are Made: There are many ways to make something we use every
day.
Gold Ruby Glass: Glass can be used to make beautiful art that will be known throughout
history.
Glass in Building: Beautiful buildings can be created with glass.
Why is it Important to Recycle It?
We should always recycle glass to keep the Earth we live on safe, and to keep it like that for
future generations. If we don't recycle glass (and other stuff) it will just pile up with garbage in
landfills, take up land, never dissolve, and create pollution. Pollution from not recycling will
make the air we breathe harmful for us and animals, kill trees and other plants, and make it
harder in general to live on Earth. If we recycle now, then people won't have to spend time in the
future fixing these mistakes!
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Glass Facts: What makes different types of glass recyclable and how does recycling make
a difference?
Green Living 101 Why is it Important to Recycle Glass?: Reusing glass is good for the
environment and for the economy.
Frequently Asked Questions – Benefits of Recycling: By recycling glass you can keep
the Earth safe for people everywhere!
Benefits of Recycling: Not recycling can be harmful to the environment – let's prevent it.
Why It's Important and How To Do It: Not only does recycling keep Earth safe, but it
prevents other important resources from being used.
The Process from Home to Recycling Truck
It doesn't take a lot of work for you to make a difference. By taking a few seconds each day
when you finish using something glass, like a bottle with juice in it, you put it in a bin that is
only meant for things to be recycled. When you are out in public with other people, put the glass
(or other recyclable things like cans and plastic) in the bins meant for recycling and not in the
garbage. When you put glass or cans in the garbage they aren't able to be recycled and just sit in
a landfill for years. Throw the items into the recycling bin, and put the bin outside where a
professional recycling person can put it on a truck and take it away.
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How Glass is Recycled: Glass goes from home bin to truck to a glass treatment plant and
reused.
How Recycling Works: From the bin to factory, every step in making new glass.
Recycling Basics: By simply putting your glass bottles into a recycling bin, other people
can do the hard work for you to do the Earth good.
Beyond the Curb Recycling Process: Try to separate glass bottles from other types of
glass like mirrors and windows to make it easier.
How to Sort Materials for Recycling: How to sort different things to recycle, and what
you can't put in the bin.
What Happens Next?
After you do your part of putting the glass and other stuff into the recycling bin then leaving it
outside for someone to take care of, what happens? Once the truck brings everything to a
recycling plant, glass is sorted by color, broken down into tiny pieces, cleaned to remove any dirt
or labels on it, melted, separated, and then turned into new bottles. Recycling means that fewer
new bottles, cans, or paper need to be created from the beginning, so energy is saved and the
world can be healthier because of it! It only takes a little of your time to sort these things so the
professionals and the machines can do the rest of the work.
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Glass Recycling Process: How glass goes from your home to the recycling plant and then
into something new.
The Recycling Process After Collection: What happens to glass and other things once it
has been collected?
Reduce Reuse Recycle: After you put things in the recycling bin, what is next?
The Recycling Process: How sorting is done so each item is recycled the right way.
Genius in a Bottle: Making glass from sand takes a lot of time and energy, but recycling
is faster and easier!