ECO PARK GLASS
Written by Sarah Birch
The third in our recycling series in conjunction with
the Eco-Park will look at the journey our glass recy-
cling makes. Fortunately, glass is a highly recyclable
material which can be recycled indefinitely without
it losing its quality or purity. It can be turned into
new glass containers, windows, glass beads for in-
dustrial purposes and fibre glass.
Before the 1970s, bottled drinks were already
popular but where packaged in glass, steel or alumi-
nium cans, but from 1973, PET plastic (Polyethylene
terephthalate) became a lightweight and cheap al-
ternative that revolutionised the packaged drink and
food industry. Bottled water was widely marketed
as a safer and healthier alternative to tap water and
by 2017, a million single-use plastic bottles were
sold globally per second. But now, with more aware-
ness of the impact that our plastic dependency has
on the environment, companies and retailers are
now turning to glass to meet their packaging needs.
So where possible, try to choose alternatives like
glass instead of plastic, and make sure to reuse and
recycle them.
1.- After your glass items are left in the appropriate
recycling bins, it is collected 3-4 times a week and
transported to the Eco Park.
2.- Once it arrives at the Eco-Park, the glass is un-
loaded into a large pit.
3.- When the pit is full and there is enough to trans-
port, the glass is loaded into trucks. This usually ha-
ppens once a month and on average the amount of
glass weighs 25 tonnes.
4.- Export permits and an Annex VII (European Docu-
ment for the Exportation through a border of non-ha-
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zardous waste) are applied for at least 24 hours be-
fore the materials are due to be transported.
5.- The following day the glass is then transported to
the Camacho recycling facility in Malaga for treatment.
6.- Glass items are sorted by colour and type and
then washed to remove impurities. The glass is then
crushed and melted and finally, moulded into new
products.
DO’S
• Make sure glass bottles and containers that have
contained food or other liquids are cleaned before
throwing them into recycling. If the glass is too con-
taminated to be cleaned properly at the recycling
facility it will be sent to landfill.
• Remove any paper labels, plastic, metal lids or
corks from glass bottles or jars
DON’TS
• Throw glass bottles or containers away that are
full of drink or food, empty them before putting them
into recycling
• Throw ceramics such as plates or tiles in with
glass. It will not be recycled and may cause glass
mixed with ceramics to be sent to landfill
• Place glass in to bags with other mixed recycling
items or put them into the wrong recycling bins. Se-
parating items is extremely important, as any bags
with mixed items will not be sorted, ending up in
land fill.
• Throw bags with household waste, even if it contains
glass, into recycling bins. Not only will it not be recy-
cled, but it can contaminate the rest of the recycling.
OTWO 08 / MARCH 2020
OTWO 08 / MARCH 2020
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