What actually happens when you recycle glass?

Question

I'm sure it doesn't get melted down or anything.

wow, thanks albania..

wow..1500 degrees C!

Answer 1

The Glass is crushed down to tiny bits,These materials are then transferred through a gravity feed system to a weigher and mixer, where the materials are mixed with cullet (recycled glass) to ensure a homogeneous melting. The mixture is conveyed to a batch storage bin where it is held until dropped into the feeder to the melting furnace.

The furnace most commonly used is a continuous regenerative furnace capable of producing between 90 and 360 tonnes of glass per day. As the glass melts at 1500 degrees centigrade, it passes to the front of the furnace, eventually flowing through a throat to the refiner. In the refiner, the molten glass is heat conditioned for delivery to the forming process.

After refining, the molten glass is channeled through forehearths and delivered to the forming machines. There, the glass is cut into sections (gobs) by a set of mechanical shears and formed using blank and blow moulds. Once the glass is shaped into a container, it is fed to a lehr oven for annealing, which removes unwanted stress areas in the glass. Then it is inspected and prepared for shipment to market. Any damaged or defective glass is transferred back to the batch plant to be used as cullet.

Recycled glass in new production

Only container glass can be used to make new containers. The reason is that, although most glass is made from silica sand, soda ash and limestone, container glass has a distinct and different formulation. Window glass, drinking glass, crystal or laboratory glass, if put in for recycling, will cause quality problems for the glass container industries using recycled glass.

Answer 2

It depends. Refillable bottles are sterilized and reused. Broken glass is melted down and made into new products. Glass is nearly infinitely recyclable. Glass that is not used for new containers may be turned into ceramic sanitary ware; used as a flux agent in brick manufacture; used as sports turf and related products; used as a media for water filtration ; maybe turned into aggregate; or used as an abrasive.

Answer 3

I know in Austin they tumble it to get rid of sharp edges then give it away to residents for gardens etc. ( you can contact solid waste services to get some or they will know where to pick it up)

Answer 4

Yes it actually does. It's gets melted down, and then reshaped.

Answer 5

The recycling process.
http://www.sita.co.uk/what-we-do/recycling/recycling-process

Answer 6

There are some very good answers here. I was going to say what others have already said.:)