Recycle More Glass in Your Hospitality Business with Bottle Bins

Recycle More Glass in Your Hospitality Business with Bottle Bins

We all enjoy a night out in a bar or restaurant, and inevitably, we get through a few bottles of beer, or a bottle of wine (or two). Have you thought about how many glass bottles hospitality businesses must get through?

Glass is one of the most recyclable materials that exists, and it’s important that we recycle it, whether that’s at home, or at our business premises.

Around 50% of the glass we use in the UK is recycled, which is okay, but not great when you consider that countries like France recycle 90%. UK bars, restaurants, and pubs throw away a staggering 200,000 tonnes of glass every year, and most of this ends up in landfill.

Glass recycling: some facts and figures

• It takes up to 4000 recycled bottles and jars to make a tonne of glass
• Families in the UK get through about 500 glass bottles and jars every year
• It takes less energy to melt down recycled glass than it does to make new glass from raw materials
• Additives can be added to glass to give it properties that prolong its shelf-life, such as the ability to absorb UV light, which ensures that any product stored in the container is not tainted
• Chemicals can be added to glass to change its colour, for example chromium oxide makes glass green, and cobalt makes it blue.

How is glass recycled?

Glass is first crushed, and any contaminants are removed, before the glass is sorted by colour. It’s then melted in a furnace and moulded or blown to make new glass bottles or jars.

Why should we recycle it?

Making new glass requires materials like sand, ash, limestone, and other ingredients, most of which need to be taken from quarries. Quarrying can have a negative impact on the environment and it also uses a lot of energy.

Glass is completely recyclable and can be recycled again and again with no loss in quality.

What can recycled glass be used for?

There are different types of glass that we use from day to day. The glass we tend to use the most is soda-lime-silica glass, the type that’s used to make most bottles and jars. There are other types of glass that can’t be mixed and sent for recycling as they are processed differently. Be aware that not all types of glass are accepted for household recycling and need to be taken to a bottle bank or recycling centre.

The different types of glass and what they can be made into:

• soda-lime-silica: bottles and jars
• borosilicate glass: heat-resistant items like Pyrex dishes
• lead glass: decorative glassware
• glass fibre: insulation and fibre optic cables

Bottle bins: Making glass recycling a breeze

Bottle bins are perfecting for collecting bottles and easily transporting them to your recycling bin or recycling point. They don’t take up a lot of space and because they’re watertight, any liquid that spills out of the bottles can easily be tipped out. They are also perfect for busy events. Recyclables can be sorted at source all ready for recycling.

But bottle bins aren’t necessarily just for hospitality businesses. They’re perfect for storing and handling materials or waste in workshops, factories, and warehouses. You could have one stationed at the end of a production line to collect goods or in a packing area to collect waste.

Our bottle bins

Our bottle bins have a 120 litre capacity (the most popular size in the UK) and they’re available in green, blue, yellow, red, and black. The black model is made from recycled plastic. The bins are UV resistant, watertight, and very durable. Despite being so robust, the bins are very lightweight and easy to clean, and their rolled edge makes for easy manoeuvrability and comfortable handling.

Our bins are perfect for collecting bottles in bars, clubs, and restaurants, but they can also be used in warehouses for recycling and storage.

If you want to improve recycling in your business, or you want a high-quality, durable storage or transport solution, our bottle bins might be just what you need.

Contact our friendly sales team to find out whether they’d make the perfect addition to your day to day operations. Contact us on 01684 292727 or at info@wheeliebins.co.uk