Clear benefits of recycling bottles from pubs

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Dec 15, 2007

HUDDERSFIELD pubs and clubs have got the bottle for a major recycling project.

Licensed premises across Yorkshire are toasting the success of a campaign to reduce the amount of glass being sent to landfill.

The campaign, called Have You Got The Bottle? was launched earlier this year by regional environmental agency Recycling Action Yorkshire.

Businesses including pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels were urged to sign up for a glass recycling collection service to cut waste.

Figures show that every tonne of recycled glass prevents the quarrying of 1.2 tonnes of raw material and avoids the release of 600kg of CO2 into the atmosphere.

If the 110,000 tonnes of glass sent to landfill each year across the north of England were recycled it would save 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere - the same as taking 11,379 family cars off the road for a year.

Among the successes, waste disposal firmBiffa doubled its collection for glass recycling from 35 to 70 tonnes a week - creating four jobs in the process.

Another firm, 3b Waste Solutions, recycled more than 300 tonnes of glass from pubs and clubs in West and North Yorkshire while GAM Schuller reported a substantial rise in enquiries for its glass collection service for South Yorkshire.

Campaign spokesman Ben Stone said: "Licensees have clearly understood the serious message behind the campaign and responded enthusiastically.

"The benefits to the environment are obvious - glass is 100% recyclable.

Despite this, the amount of glass sent to landfill in the north is huge. By recycling just one glass bottle you could save enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for almost an hour."

Mr Stone said: "We hope the initial momentum will continue. Over the Christmas period, a massive amount of glass waste will be created and we would urge all licensees to act responsibly and add their weight to this important and valuable campaign."