Question: I can put bottles and jars in the glass container, so why not other kinds of glass such as drinking glasses and glass plates?
Answer: Drinking glasses and plates should not be recycled along with glass bottles and jars. They are made from a toughened glass, which contains certain chemicals that have a different melting point. Glass bottles and jars are sent to recycling facilities where they are turned back into new glass bottles and jars.
Toughened glass present in this process can cause imperfections. The recycling facilities maintain strict quality control and would reject the entire batch of imperfect bottles and jars.
Unbroken drinking glasses and plates can be donated to resale stores operated by Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, etc. Broken glasses should be wrapped and placed in your trash.
Question: Can window glass and windshields be recycled?
Answer: The same principle applies to window glass including vehicle glass. Windshields and window glass contain additives and coatings such as laminates, tinting products, etc. These additives are difficult to remove. Coatings that affect fragility and heat and UV transfer can weaken recycled glass, causing bubbles and cracks. Disposing of old windows can incur cost, whether a window replacement company charges you to haul them off or you pay to take them to the landfill. If they are unbroken, check with local resale businesses to see if they will take them.
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