Glass sorting: A complete guide

Last updated: 02 / 04 / 2026

Glass has a unique property, as it is 100% recyclable and infinitely recyclable without ever losing its physical or chemical characteristics. Glass sorting consists of separate glass packaging from other waste to allow for their recycling or reuse. In practice, this involves depositing bottles, jars and flasks in glass recycling bins or glass containers.
Whether you are a conscientious individual or an industrialist looking to structuring its reuse sectorGlass sorting is a crucial challenge for the future. This includes information on collection methods, recycling, packaging reuse, environmental and regulatory issues, and best practices for both individuals and professionals. ETERNITY Systems explains everything you need to know about glass sorting.

Summary

Glass sorting in summary

● Glass is 100% recyclable and infinitely reusable. without losing its qualities and without adding any raw materials.
● Glass collection is mainly carried out via Voluntary Drop-Off Points (PAV) also called glass recycling bins.
● Recycled glass (cullet) helps reduce CO₂ emissions and to save on raw materials.
● Reusing washed glass bottles is even more virtuous than recycling.

What is glass sorting?

Glass sorting involves separating glass packaging from other household waste. to allow for their recycling or reuse. Glass has the particularity of having perfect circularity, as it is 100% recyclable and infinitely so, without ever losing its physical or chemical characteristics.

Indeed, a recycled glass bottle can become a new bottle in just 30 days, and this process can be repeated indefinitely. Glass sorting therefore allows to save the raw materials needed for its manufacture such as sand, limestone and sodium carbonate.

What types of glass can be recycled in glass containers?

Only packaging glass can be deposited in glass recycling bins. This type of glass represents the majority of bottles, flasks, jars and containers used on a daily basis.

Glasses accepted in glass containers

There are 4 main types of glass packaging that must be placed in glass recycling bins:
- The glass bottles (wine, water, fruit juice, oil, vinegar)
- The glass jars (preserves, jams, pickles)
- The glass jars (yogurts, dessert creams, mustard)
- The glass bottles (empty perfumes, cosmetics, and medicine bottles)

These packages are made of soda-lime glass whose composition allows their recycling in glass furnaces without altering the quality of the recycled glass.

Glasses are prohibited in glass recycling bins

Certain types of glass should never be thrown into glass recycling containers, as they have a different chemical composition that disrupts the recycling process:

- The glassware (Plates, drinking glasses, dishes): These items are made of tempered or borosilicate glass and are incompatible with packaging glass recycling. They must be disposed of in the household waste bin or taken to a recycling center.
- The Pyrex glass and ceramic glass Used for cooking, these technical glasses have a very high melting point which prevents their integration into the classic recycling process.
- The Cristal Containing lead, crystal is strictly prohibited in recycling channels due to its metallic contamination.
- The Mirrors and windows : these flat glasses are chemically treated and must be taken to a waste disposal center.
- The light bulbs and neon tubes : they contain hazardous substances and fall under a specific collection system.

Introducing these incompatible glasses into glass recycling bins creates "infusibles," that is, solid particles that do not melt during remelting and weaken the new glass bottles produced.

How does glass collection work in France?

Glass collection in France is based on two systems:

- The Voluntary Drop-Off Points (PAV)commonly called glass bins or glass containers.
- The door-to-door collection.

The Voluntary Drop-Off Point (PAV)

With approximately 205,000 collection points spread across the entire French territoryGlass recycling bins (PAVs) are freely accessible glass containers installed in public spaces where citizens voluntarily deposit used glass. PAVs account for 90% of glass collection and offer several advantages:

- The optimal quality of the collected glass : the PAV limits contamination by other waste, guaranteeing a purity rate of over 95%.
- High-performance reduced treatment costs : according to ADEME, the treatment of glass collected in PAV costs around €75/tonne, compared to €715/tonne for plastics.
- An experienced management permanent accessibility Citizens can drop off their glass 24/7 (while respecting quiet hours, generally between 7am and 10pm).
- Thelogistics optimization Collection trucks only come when the bins are full, thus reducing transport costs and carbon footprint.

Door-to-door collection (PAP)

Door-to-door collection involves providing residents with an individual glass recycling bin, which is emptied regularly by the collection services. This system remains marginal in France for glass, mainly due to:

– Risk of contamination: glass collected in PAP often has a higher rate of impurities (other waste mixed in by mistake).
– Higher logistical costs: regular collection rounds increase the expenses of local authorities.
– The need for sorting centres: unlike PAV where glass is directly transported to glassworks, PAP requires an additional sorting step.

What happens to the glass after it goes in the glass recycling bin?

Once collected in glass recycling bins, packaging glass begins a transformation process to become cullet, which is recycled glass ready to be remelted. This industrial process involves several steps to guarantee the purity and quality of the recycled glass.

The stages of glass recycling

- Collection and delivery : glass is collected in glass bins and then transported to a specialized processing center.
- Mechanical sorting : the glass is freed from metallic elements (capsules, stoppers) using magnets and eddy current separators.
- Optical tri-optics : laser sensors detect and eliminate the "infusibles" (ceramics, porcelain, stoneware) which cannot melt with the glass.
- Grinding : the glass is crushed into small pieces to obtain cullet.
- Secure your structural assessments : the calcine is analyzed to guarantee its purity (metal content < 5 g/tonne, infusible content < 50 g/tonne).
- Fusion : the cullet is melted at 1,550 °C in the furnaces of the glassworks, mixed with virgin raw materials if necessary, to manufacture new packaging.
- Conception : molten glass is molded to create new bottles, jars or flasks.

This process allows used glass to be transformed into new packaging in just about 30 days., thus perfectly completing the circle of der Kreislaufwirtschaft. According to the roadmap for decarbonizing the glass industry published in June 2023The French glass industry emits 2,7 million tons of CO₂ per year. To address this challenge, the government and the glass industry have committed to reducing these emissions by 0,81 million tons of CO₂ by 2030, representing a decrease of 30%.

What is the state of glass waste in France in 2026?

France is among the European leaders in glass recycling.with solid infrastructure and good collection performance. The network of collection points is dense, the infrastructure is efficient, and citizens have a strong commitment to selective sorting.

The next steps for France consist of strengthen urban collection, accelerate the development of reuse, and generalize the deposit systems to reach the total collection target set for 2029.

here are some key figures To get an overview of the glass industry in France:

- France is the 2nd largest European producer of glasswith a production of approximately 5 million tonnes per year
- 84% : the recycling rate of household glass packaging in France, one of the best in Europe.
- In 2017, 227,000 tonnes of glass packaging were reused. (of which 220 kt by restaurant owners)
- 2,6 million tonnes : the quantity of packaging glass placed on the French market each year.
- 2,3 million tonnes : this is the volume of glass packaging actually recycled in 2024. This represents approximately 91 75cl bottles recycled per second.
– The glass travels on average 230 km to be collected and recycled
- 100% : the national objective for glass collection by 2029, set by the 2019 Glass 100% solutions charter.
- 81% of French people declare that they sort their glass packaging
- 75% of French people are satisfied with the glass collection system
- 99,8% Recycled glass comes from PAVs
- 10% of packaging reused by 2027 for producers and distributors.
- 15% discount packaging waste by 2040.

What does glass reuse consist of?

Glass reuse involves collecting, washing and reusing glass packaging (bottles, jars, flasks) without destroying them, unlike recycling which requires crushing and remelting the glass at 1550°C to make new containers.

In concrete terms, if we take the example of a reused bottle, it is:

– Collected,
– Sorted,
– Industrially washed
– Controlled
– Put back into circulation for a new use.

Automated sorting

LAutomated sorting is an industrial process which uses advanced technologies (optical sensors, artificial intelligence, high-definition cameras) to automatically identify, separate and eliminate bottles that do not conform to reuse.

To reuse glass on a large scale, automated sorting is a crucial step before washing, and it is with this in mind thatETERNITY Systems recently acquired CLS – Cleanway Logistics Solutions GmbH (now Circular Logistics Solutions), a German specialist in automated bottle sorting and circular logistics, which sorts up to 40,000 bottles per hour with an accuracy of 99,8%.

Industrial washing

Industrial washing refers to an automated and certified process that thoroughly cleans reusable packaging according to strict sanitary standards. Once sorted by the CLS systems, the compliant bottles enter the industrial washing centers where ETERNITY Systems has been deploying its expertise for almost 30 years.

This combination of automated sorting and industrial washing allows companies to:

- Reduce their carbon footprint by 75% compared to recycling (from the fourth rotation onwards)
- Reduce their packaging supply costs
- To guarantee full sanitary compliance according to the strictest agri-food standards.

Glass reuse impact simulator

In the meantime, there is no need to worry about it. ”

How to optimize glass sorting in the workplace?

Companies in the restaurant, hotel, distribution, and industrial sectors generate significant volumes of glass waste that must be sorted not only to reduce costs and improve compliance with European standards, but also to maximize its value. CSR commitment.

Several actions can enable professionals to optimize glass sorting for their business:

- Auditing the flows : it is a matter of precisely identifying the volumes of glass generated per site in order to determine the needs for collection and glass recycling bins.

- Install dedicated containers near production areas : set up visible and easily accessible glass bins for the teams (kitchen, bar, break room).

- Train the employees Raising employee awareness of sorting guidelines, such as the prohibition of throwing away dishes, the removal of caps and capsules, etc., is crucial. Annual awareness sessions and visual aids displayed near collection points can reinforce the adoption of good practices.

- Form partnerships with specialized service providers : working with actors like ETERNITY Systems for collection, washing and reusing containers Glass management allows companies to outsource their glass management professionally while helping them achieve regulatory compliance. The advantage is that these providers also supply traceability data necessary for CSR reporting.

- Digitize and trace the flows : digital traceability tools (RFID chips, QR codes) make it possible to monitor in real time the life cycles of reusable packaging, to accurately count the volumes sorted and recycled, and to automatically generate the reports necessary for carbon footprints and CSR objectives.

- Prioritize reuse Choosing reusable and washable bottles over single-use packaging is a more environmentally friendly alternative to systematic recycling, as it avoids the energy required to remelt glass. A reused bottle becomes more environmentally sound than recycling from the fourth use onwards, allowing companies to reduce their packaging costs while showcasing their environmental commitment to their customers.

By adopting proper sorting habits, prioritizing bottle reuse, and respecting collection guidelines, everyone can contribute to strengthening the glass recycling sector and boosting the circular economy. For businesses, optimizing glass management also represents an opportunity to reduce costs, comply with regulations (AGEC, PPWR, EPR EIC), and enhance their CSR commitment.

ETERNITY Systems supports professionals in this transition by offering complete solutions for the collection, washing and reuse of glass packaging.

FAQ

Where should I throw away broken glass?

Broken glass (windows, mirrors, broken bottles) should never be placed in glass recycling bins for safety reasons. It can injure collection and sorting workers. Broken glass should be disposed of in the household waste bin, carefully wrapped in paper or cardboard.

Where should I dispose of glass jar lids?

Metal lids and caps should be placed in the yellow recycling bin reserved for lightweight packaging. (plastics, metals). If you forget to remove the lids before throwing your jars into the glass recycling bins, the cullet treatment centers are equipped with magnetic separators that will mechanically extract them.

Where should I throw away glassware?

Glassware (plates, dishes, drinking glasses, salad bowls) must be thrown in the household waste bin or taken to a waste disposal center. It should never be thrown into glass containers because their presence in glass bins creates "infusibles" which disrupt recycling and weaken new bottles.

Which types of glass are not recyclable?

Dishes (plates, drinking glasses, serving dishes), Pyrex and ceramic hobs, crystal, mirrors and glass panes, as well as light bulbs and fluorescent tubes, are not recyclable.They must be thrown in the household waste or taken to a waste disposal center.

Which companies are affected by the obligations to reuse glass?

Reuse obligations mainly concern beverage producers, importers and distributors (breweries, wineries, mineral water producers, distilleries), as well as those in the restaurant, hotel, and food distribution sectors. Companies generating significant volumes of glass packaging must therefore structure their reuse channels to meet these regulatory deadlines.

What is the difference between recycling and reusing glass?

Recycling involves crushing the glass into cullet and then remelting it at a temperature of 1,550°C to manufacture new packaging.requiring significant energy. Reuse involves industrially washing the bottles for reuse as is, without any transformation.

About the Author

Anthony ADAM

Communications and Marketing Manager at ETERNITY Systems, Anthony designs strategies and content to promote more sustainable consumption. He is a committed agent of change who combines creativity, rigor, and action to strengthen the visibility and impact of projects related to reuse and the circular economy.