The National Glass Association (NGA) announced the publication of a new technical resource, Overcoming Challenges of Circularity and Architectural Glass Recycling.
This five-page Glass Technical Paper (GTP) reviews the types of glass that can be recycled, clarifies misconceptions about recycling glass, details benefits and value creation that comes from glass recycling and outlines end-use products. Because of the potential for expanded value, increased cullet use has been cited as a key strategy towards long-term sustainability goals for many types of glass industries.
“Cullet is becoming an ever more important raw material in the landscape of U.S. glass manufacturing,” said Kyle Sword, task group chair and R&D Director at NSG Pilkington. “Increasing the availability and cleanliness of cullet in the U.S. will take some collaboration and infrastructure creation, but there is clearly a path ahead of us that yields a clean, economically viable product for the glass industries.”
This GTP explains the challenges and risks that come with glass recycling currently within North America, references broader global activities around cullet reuse and proposes proactive steps to maximise the value of cullet reuse. By expanding circular practices in the field of architectural glass, opportunities to strengthen local labour markets and enhance the glass industry’s reputation as an effective and sustainable solution will grow.
NGA thanks the task group members who developed this resource for the industry.
Task Group Members
• Kyle Sword, NSG|Pilkington – Chair
• Gin Benner, Agnora
• Rob Carlson, Tristar Glass
• Patrick Elmore, Infinite Recycled Technologies
• Kyle Faron, Permasteelisa North America
• Jon Griggs, Guardian Glass
• Michael Hammond
• Matt Manning, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope
• Adam Mitchell, Agnora
• Jeff Skaza, Eastman Chemical Company
• Aaron Thompson, Viracon
• DJ Weil, Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions
• Stanley Yee, Infinite Recycled Technologies
• Nick Yule, Viracon
• Andrea Zani, Permasteelisa North America