Words CRD
Glass bottles and jars are a common part of everyday life – from pasta sauce and jam to pickles and beverages. While they’re fully recyclable, the most environmentally friendly option is to reuse them first whenever possible.
After a quick wash, glass bottles and jars can enjoy a second life as storage for leftovers, pantry staples, homemade dressings, coffee and tea, hardware, craft supplies, or even fresh flowers and plant cuttings.
When a glass container has reached the end of its useful life, recycling is the next best option. In B.C., glass bottles and jars are collected separately from other recycling materials. When glass is placed in the mixed container or paper recycling stream, it can break during collection and processing, contaminating paper and other recyclable materials while also creating a safety issue for staff handling these materials.
Accepted and non-accepted glass for recycling
Glass bottles and jars accepted through home or depot recycling are considered glass packaging because they originally contained food or beverages.
Examples of accepted glass packaging include: pasta sauce, jam, salsa and pickle jars.
Other household glass items are considered glass products, not packaging. These items are made from different types of glass that melt at different temperatures and cannot be recycled with glass bottles and jars.
Examples of non-accepted glass items include: drinking and wine glasses, window glass, mirrors, Pyrex and bakeware, ceramics and picture frame glass.
Broken household glass should be safely wrapped before placing it in the garbage.
How to prepare glass for recycling
Whether you’re using curbside collection, a depot or apartment recycling program, preparing glass is simple. Give it a quick rinse; a small amount of residue is OK, but containers should be mostly clean. Leave labels on. Remove lids and place them in your mixed recycling bin. Never put glass in a plastic bag before placing in recycling bin.
Be aware that in B.C., glass bottles and jars are always put into their own designated bin – either at the curb, in an apartment or condo recycling room, or at the depot.
Residents receiving CRD curbside blue box collection can recycle glass bottles and jars by placing them in a separate bin. An old plastic tub or pail can be used to contain your clean glass containers. Cardboard boxes, paper bags or plastic bags are not suitable receptacles for your glass containers. You can email infoline@crd.bc.ca to have a Glass Bottles and Jars Only sticker for your glass bin mailed to your house.
Apartment and condo buildings are serviced by private waste and recycling companies rather than the CRD’s curbside collection program. Recycling services vary between buildings and service providers, so residents should follow the instructions provided by their property manager or strata.
