The ‘A Roadmap to Closed Loop Glass Recycling’ report, created in collaboration with WRAP, outlines the path to achieving a 90% recycling rate for UK glass packaging by 2030, integrating the latest data and insights. The roadmap emphasises the necessity of improving both the quality and quantity of glass collected, advocating for two-stream recycling systems, public awareness initiatives, and alignment with upcoming legislative frameworks such as Simpler Recycling. Some analysts say this is part and parcel of the glass industry’s push to keep glass packaging material out of the upcoming deposit return scheme (DRS), due to be rolled out in 2027. British Glass said the updated roadmap makes use of the latest available glass data for the UK including composition by stream, exports, and PRN returns. The report also reveals the highest and lowest performing local authorities in terms of household glass collection, highlighting those that do not currently collect glass at kerbside. The updated report provides insights into optimising collection and sorting processes, ensuring that more glass is recycled back into new glass packaging. The association said: “British Glass and WRAP encourage stakeholders across the glass manufacturing and recycling sectors, as well as local authorities and policymakers, to engage with the roadmap and support its implementation”. With the UK recycling rate for glass being just under 75%, it said improvements can still be made to capture more glass at high quality levels. The Welsh Collection Blueprint is used as an example of good practice, with 2023 figures showing 92% of glass disposed at home in Wales is placed in the recycling box. Nick Kirk, technical director, British Glass, said: “The updated roadmap is a significant step forward in our mission to transform the UK’s glass recycling infrastructure. By implementing the recommendations on the collection of glass as outlined in this report, we can move closer to a true circular economy of glass, ensuring that more glass packaging is not only recycled but reprocessed into new glass packaging here in the UK. We look forward to supporting the waste collection sector in collecting more good quality glass, to continue the increase in the recycled content of UK manufactured glass packaging.”
