Nine remarkable facts about returnable glass bottles
TGRC believes in the infinite potential of glass to make a real and positive contribution to society
Did you know not all glass bottles are reusable?
The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) finds it important to encourage an awareness about not only glass recycling, but the act of returning bottles.
Here are nine facts we’re sure you didn’t know about returnable (or reusable) glass bottles:
1. Annually, South Africans use 2.7 million tons of glass packaging, but only need to produce 0.8 million tons due to the returnable bottling system.
2. Every returnable bottle returned to a beverage manufacturer is hygienically sterilised and refilled.
3. Customers can receive their deposit back when they return their bottles to the retailer, shebeen or trader that sold them the beverage.
4. The average returnable beer bottle is refilled 21 times in its environmentally-friendly lifecycle.
5. South Africa has one of the most efficient returnable bottle systems in the world.
6. Our country has one of the globe’s largest supply of returnable bottles in market at any given time.
7. 82% of glass packaging is diverted from landfill each year through customers using returnable bottles and recycling non-returnable bottles.
8. By reusing existing glass bottles, 610kg of CO2 is saved for every one ton of glass reused.
9. While South Africa continues to see a rise in the use of returnable bottles, countries such as the USA, New Zealand and Australia have witnessed a decline.
It is safe to say that these statistics and facts support the case for reusing glass packaging whenever possible. Remember to reuse, return and recycle your glass bottle or jar in order to help reduce the environmental impact.
About TGRC
TGRC is funded by its loyal shareholders who manufacture glass packaging or package their products in glass.
While TGRC do not physically recycle the glass, they strive to educate, enable, encourage and inspire communities to separate their glass for recycling daily.
Their focus is not only on consumers and their communities but also on trade, industry and corporate South Africa. They also aim to uplift impoverished communities through job creation and skills development in the recycling sector.
TGRC believes in the infinite potential of glass to make a real and positive contribution to society. At TGRC they are committed to prove that glass recycling is worth the effort.
To find a glass bank near you, visit www.tgrc.co.za
