Glass

Glass is collected for recycling at all Highland Council recycling points and centres and there are often collections in the car parks of big supermarket stores. It is recommended to rinse empty bottles after use in order to avoid nasty and possibly smelly spillages as you transport them to be recycled; and with less sweet, sticky stuff in the bottles, wasps and flies will be attracted less to the recycling bank

Common glass is made from sand, limestone, soda ash (made from salt) and old glass bottles and jars which are heated together to a very high temperature in a furnace. Adding used glass reduces the amount of energy needed and is therefore an important ingredient in glass making. Glass will not decompose but most glass can be recycled, thus reducing the amount of raw material consumed and the amount of glass in landfill.

Glass can also be re-used, which is preferable to recycling as less energy is expended. If you make your own jams, chutneys, wines, etc., old glass jars and bottles are very useful. If you are not in the habit of such home industries, find out if anyone you know requires any extra glassware. Some charity shops may accept jars suitable for jam making.