Clearview National February 2020 - Issue 219 | Page 68
GLASS&SEALEDUNITS
Taking Recycling to the Next Level
Integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass & Glazing is working in
partnership with Saint-Gobain Glass to take recycling to the next level.
» THE TWO COMPANIES ARE JOINING
forces to recycle and re-use post-consumer
glass; that is glass that has been taken out of
old windows that have reached the end of
their life.
Saint-Gobain Glass already operates the
UK’s largest cullet or waste glass return
scheme and, since the introduction of using
cullet in the manufacture of float glass,
the company has been able to increase the
amount of recycled material utilised to 35%
rising to 41% in some cases. However,
the majority of the 56,000 tonnes of waste
glass returned every year comes from the
manufacturing process (pre-consumed glass)
rather than glass that has been utilised in end
products.
Morley Glass & Glazing has now stepped
in and offered its 50,000 sq ft manufacturing
space in Leeds, West Yorkshire to serve as a
collection centre for post-consumer glass and
has installed a glass crushing machine and
employed one new member of staff to manage
the scheme. See the video here of the glass
crushing machine in action.
Ian Short, managing director at Morley
Glass & Glazing said: “We already send our
waste glass from the factory to Saint-Gobain
68 » F EB 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
Glass in Eggborough to become cullet and
be used in the production of new float glass.
Now we are offering our customers the
opportunity to return their post-consumer
glass to us for recycling free of charge. The
money we receive for the recycled glass will be
donated to local environmental charities.
“It seems such a waste for our vans to return
empty after delivering our sealed units with
integral blinds inside throughout the UK, so
why not encourage our customers to pack
them full of old windows and doors that they
are replacing. This saves our customers the
cost and inconvenience of disposing of them
to landfill or other commercial recycling
schemes that will levy a charge for the service.
We will then separate the metal and frames
from the glass and ensure each element is
recycled and re-used as fully as possible.”
Mike Butterick, Head of Marketing at
Saint-Gobain Glass said: “This is a fantastic
partnership that delivers a sustainable solution
for the whole supply chain. Using one tonne
of cullet saves 1.2 tonnes of raw material,
including 850 kg of sand; reducing CO2
emissions by approximately 300 kg.
“Our innovative use of cullet in the glass
manufacturing process has always been
a key differentiator for the business and
this partnership takes it one step further.
It demonstrates Morley Glass & Glazing’s
commitment to the environment as they are
incurring the additional costs of transporting
post-consumer glass from sites across the UK
back to their factory in Leeds and sorting and
disposing of all component parts of windows
and doors. Plus they are donating the proceeds
to environmental charities.
“Mirrored, lacquered and coated
glass can all be returned and used in the
manufacturing process. As cullet takes less
energy to process than raw materials, this
benefits both Saint-Gobain Glass and the
environment.”
Saint-Gobain Glass is committed to
ensuring none of the cullet returned ends as
landfill. Therefore, if the cullet doesn’t pass
the company’s strict screening procedure,
provisions are made for it to be recycled
elsewhere via a third party.
For more information about Morley Glass
& Glazing’s glass recycling scheme visit
www.morleyglass.co.uk or visit Morley
Glass’s YouTube Channel to see the glass
crushing machine in action.