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Recycle Glass Jars This Christmas
The TV personality is championing a national campaign by the trade federation, British Glass, which aims to remind people to recycle their glass food jars, as well as their bottles after the festivities. This Christmas the UK will consume almost 5.5 million jars of mincemeat, 12 million jars of pickles and 6.5 million jars of cranberry sauce all packaged in glass, but only a small percentage will get recycled. Last year, whilst some of our European neighbours recycled over 90 per cent of their glass packaging, the UK recycled 37 per cent. Recycling jars as well as bottles can help increase this figure. Figures from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show that 863,000 tonnes of glass packaging were recycled last year. UK glass container manufacturers alone recycled 617,000 tonnes. In 2004 we hope the UK will recycle over 1 million tonnes of glass for the first time. Recycling glass is getting easier and more people are getting into the habit. Recycling just one jar or bottle saves enough energy to power a television for 20 minutes or a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour. At the launch Kevin said: “Many people remember to recycle empty bottles at Christmas, but forget about recycling all the empty jars of mincemeat, cranberry sauce, mayonnaise, pickles and even the curry sauce jar they use to make left-over turkey curry.“ He added: “The great thing about glass is it can be recycled again and again to make more bottles and jars, so after the celebrations don’t bin your glass, bank it at your local recycling centre or put it in your kerbside box. And while you’re recycling the glass, don’t forget your cans, newspapers, plastic bottles and even the Christmas tree, cards and TV guides too.” Andrew Hartley of British Glass said: “Fifty per cent of the glass collected for recycling in the UK is green. We want to increase the amount of clear and brown glass that is being recycled, as we have the capacity to hugely increase the percentages being used to make new bottles and jars. Most jars are made from clear glass, so by recycling your jars as well as your bottles, you really can help the environment. He added: ”Glass is not only an environmentally friendly packaging material but consumers prefer it to other types of packaging. Research shows that 76 per cent of consumers prefer to see glass on the table rather than plastic and 66 per cent believe food and drink tastes better out of glass. Glass is associated with quality and special celebrations, which is why many more products packaged in glass are purchased during the festive season.” Notes to Editors • The British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation represents the interests of all sectors of the glass industry in the UK. Its main activity is in representing the industry at European, national and local level on a wide range of topical legislative issues. It also conducts independent research into all aspects of glass production and technology. • British Glass is a separate entity from BGRC, British Glass Recycling Company, which is wholly owned by United Glass, one of the UK’s seven glass container manufacturers. • More information is available from www.britglass.org.uk • Further information on recycling can be found at www.recyclenow.com • For figures on your council’s recycling rates, contact the British Glass press office. • All packaging materials have common aims for recycling and are faced by similar issues and legislation: Alcan: www.alupro.org.uk 0845 722 7722 Corus: www.scrib.org 01639 872343 Paper Chain: www.paper.org.uk 01793 889600 Recoup: www.recoup.org 01733 390021 For further information contact: Michael Bennett or Paul Ward 13 December 2004
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Celebrity chef Kevin Woodford is urging people to bank and not bin their festive food jars this Christmas.