Quick answer: Glass bottles and jars go in your kerbside recycling bin in most of the UK. If not, use a bottle bank. Never put drinking glasses, Pyrex, or window glass in recycling bins.
Standard UK glass recycling rules
Glass is infinitely recyclable without loss of quality. However, not all glass is the same. Here’s what goes where:
| Glass type | Kerbside recycling | Bottle bank | General waste |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass beer/wine bottle | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Glass jam jar | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Glass sauce bottle | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Drinking glass (tumbler) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Pyrex / ovenproof glass | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Window glass | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Crystal glass | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Preparation: what to do before binning glass
- Empty and rinse – Remove food or liquid residue. A quick rinse is fine; it doesn’t need to be dishwasher-clean.
- Remove lids – Metal lids go in recycling separately (they’re steel or aluminium). Plastic lids go in general waste.
- Leave labels on – Labels burn off during melting. Don’t waste time peeling.
- Don’t crush – Leave bottles and jars whole so sorters can identify them.
Council variations: kerbside vs bottle banks
Most English and Welsh councils collect glass in mixed recycling bins. However:
- Northern Ireland – Most councils use bottle banks only (kerbside glass collection is rare).
- Scottish islands and rural areas – Often bottle banks only due to transport costs.
- Some English councils (e.g., parts of Cornwall) – Ask you to put glass in a separate box, not mixed with plastic/card.
Check your council’s rules. If they don’t collect glass kerbside, find your nearest bottle bank at recyclenow.com.
Common mistakes with glass recycling
- Putting broken drinking glasses in the bottle bank – One Pyrex dish can ruin several tonnes of bottle glass. The melting point difference causes defects.
- Leaving lids on – Metal lids are fine in recycling but can get stuck inside glass during crushing. Remove them.
- Including window glass or mirrors – These have chemical coatings and different compositions. General waste only.
- Putting glass in general waste “because it’s small” – Never. Glass in landfill doesn’t biodegrade and can puncture liners.
What about broken glass?
Small amounts of broken bottle or jar glass are usually fine in kerbside recycling. However:
- Wrap sharp pieces in newspaper to protect collection crews.
- Large amounts (e.g., a smashed pane of glass) go in general waste, double-bagged and clearly labelled “broken glass”.
Blue bins, green bins, and glass
Some councils use a separate glass-only box or small wheelie bin (often blue or green). Others mix glass with all recycling. Check the label on your bin or your council website.
Remember: When in doubt, take glass to a bottle bank. It’s safer than contaminating kerbside recycling.