FEVE: EU glass recycling hits record levels

28 March 2013


The average glass recycling rate in the European Union has risen above the 70% threshold for the first time, according to the most recent data published by the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE).

More than 11 million tonnes of glass was collected throughout the European Union in 2011, FEVE says, with more than three-quarters of the total being used as secondary raw material in the resource-efficient bottle-to-bottle closed loop.

The achievement follows “major efforts” made in all EU Member States over the past few years to meet the EU’s 60% recycling target for glass – a level that was reached by all countries involved by 2008.

“We have no problems in absorbing more recycled glass, provided that this is of high quality,” says FEVE president Stefan Jaenecke.

“Glass recycling is the key component of the circular economy – because recycling closes the loop.”

Glass recycling, Jaenecke adds, saves raw materials and energy and reduces production costs.

Based on FEVE’s life cycle analysis, the effects of recycling glass in 2011 were:

 

  • Over 12 million tonnes of raw materials saved (sand, soda ash, limestone)
  • Over 7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided, "equal to taking 4 million cars off the road"
  • A saving of 2.5% energy for each 10% of glass recycled in the furnace

 

However, more needs to be done to collect the remaining 30% of used glass that is currently wasted, FEVE says, and to promote “a circular economy that suits the ambitious vision of the European Commission to build a ‘zero waste’ and ‘resource-efficient’ society.”

FEVE secretary general Adeline Farrelly says: “Glass is a mono-material and does not require any additional barriers to preserve food and drinks, and its infinite recycling is a unique property.

“We advocate suitable legislation that acknowledges and incentivises real recycling.”

The FEVE association has some 60 corporate members belonging to approximately 20 independent corporate groups, with manufacturing plants located across 23 European States producing over 20 million tonnes of glass per year.



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