In March triple-P started a glass recycling pilot project with three liquor establishments in Kwa-Makhutha and Lovu in the south of Durban to collect their uncrushed glass bottles.
Over the past 8 weeks, this project expanded to include open green spaces, liquor establishments and households in Kwa-Makhutha, Ezimbokodweni, Umlazi, and Lovu townships. The result is 25,000 glass bottles were collected, two full-time jobs were created and the local waste reclaimers were supported.
Why We Started This Initiative?
triple-P started this glass recycling project to safeguard the environment and promote public health by recycling used glass that would otherwise end up in landfills, green spaces, and rivers. This not only reduces carbon emissions but also minimises the need for raw materials to produce new glass. It is important to note that post-consumer glass not properly disposed of can be used for illicit beverages, which pose a serious risk to public health.
What Are The Benefits Of Glass Recycling?
Manufacturing glass requires a significant amount of electricity and water. In this way, glass recycling has many benefits:
- Glass can be recycled again and again without ever losing its clarity or purity.
- Every ton of glass recycled prevents the quarrying of 1.2 tons of raw materials (sand and silica).
- Glass recycling saves energy. Making new glass from recycled glass uses less energy than using raw materials – saving energy!
- The energy saving from recycling just one bottle will power one of the following:
– A computer for 25 minutes
– A colour TV for 20 minutes
– A washing machine for 10 minutes - If the average household recycled all their glass in a year, enough energy would be saved to power:
– A computer for 5 days
– A colour TV for nearly 4.5 days
– A washing machine for 2.5 days - Glass recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling reduces the release of CO2 into the atmosphere, helping to minimise climate change.
- Every ton of new bottles and jars made using recycled glass rather than raw materials prevents the emission of 670 kg of CO2.
Read more about the triple-P Waste Management projects
