Glass recycling across the EU has reached 70% for the first time, although the UK's performance is below this average. The European Container Glass Federation (FEVE) figures showed that 70% of glass was collected for recycling across the European Union in 2011, up from 68% in 2010.
The UK collected just under 64% during the period. In 2010, the UK collected 61% of glass for recycling.
Of the 27 EU countries, Belgium collected the biggest proportion, almost 97% with Malta at 5.8% and Romania at 25.5% the smallest.
Rebecca Cocking, head of container affairs at British Glass said: "We're fully committed to working in partnership with all those along the supply chain to help make glass in landfill sites a thing of the past and to ensure that recycled glass is sent to applications with positive environmental benefit such as back into new bottles and jars." Rebecca Cocking, FEVE said the figures illustrated how the glass industry has manufactured and marketed glass to be effectively recycled in a closed loop system, and collection and processing has been improved over the years. "We have no problems in absorbing more recycled glass provided that this is of high quality," said FEVE president Stefan Jaenecke. "Glass recycling is the key component of the circular economy because recycling closes the loop. Glass recycling saves raw materials and energy and reduces production costs." The EU had a target of 60% glass recycling by 2008, which was achieved.
