Exploring glass recycling: Trends, technologies, and future trajectories
Choong Real Baek, Hwidong Kim, Yong-Chul Jang
Abstract
Glass is a solid-like, chemically stable, and transparent material that is commonly used in many applications, including packaging, construction, consumer products, and automobile industries. In light of increasing global concerns over plastic pollution, there is a renewed focus on using glass alternatives to plastic materials. Challenges persist due to the weight, fragility, significant energy use, and resource consumption in the manufacturing process, despite its infinite recyclability and minimal environmental impacts. This study explored the overview of glass recycling, including the properties of glass, the current status of global recycling efforts, collection and recycling methods, challenges, and future directions. We created material flows of glass bottles by analyzing the recycling status and systems of selected countries with higher glass recycling rates and by using the most current data available. We also examined the current technologies used in collecting and recycling glass, and the future of glass recycling. Introducing renewable energy, a deposit return scheme (DRS), extended producer responsibility (EPR) system, and digitalization technologies at the recycling stage are expected to effectively enhance sustainable production and consumption of glass towards a circular economy.