PACKAGING COUNCIL (SECRETARIAT)

Glass Sector

Glass recycling hits new high of 53% and is on target to meet and exceed its Accord target

The total amount of glass recycled per annum is the equivalent of diverting 314 million glass containers from landfill. In the Glass Packaging Forum's first full year, recovery increased by approximately 17,000 tonnes (equivalent to eliminating a further 50,000 bottles from landfill) (this number excludes glass held in the South Island awaiting crushing by either the Forum's crusher or by local operators) notwithstanding an even greater increase in consumption.

The Forum is a member-led and member-funded voluntary organisation representing companies that manufacture, fill or sell glass containers in New Zealand, demonstrating that voluntary product stewardship is effective at resolving sustainability issues. Membership is voluntary but all major companies have been encouraged to join, resulting in over 100 companies participating (see www.glassforum.org.nz for a full list of members). The Forum is actively targeting non participants to ensure a level playing field.

Amongst the most influential members are the brand owners and retailers who, along with the glass manufacturers, have contributed substantial funds and time to understand how best to address today's glass recycling issues after nearly 80 years of recycling in New Zealand. Funding, since the initial inception of a glass industry group, totals around NZ$2 million.

The fruits of this effort are borne out with more glass recycled locally; better working relationships between the Forum and recycling operators and local councils; and a change in the terms of reference for grants to include capital investment and infrastructure funding where these will inform and provide leadership to others.

A cost-benefit analysis was commissioned comparing two separate methodologies used in Nelson and Palmerston North to crush glass into an aggregate mix. Glass crushing provides the advantage of using glass in local infrastructure projects and reduces the need to separate by colour. Glass has been successfully used in hard stand areas, paths, cycle tracks and trial areas of roads.

The financial cost of using cullet is typically higher than using raw quarry materials (without factoring in the environmental impact of quarrying or the potential cost of landfill), hence the Forum has approved the purchase and operation of a mobile glass crusher which will serve local communities who are unable to economically return cullet to Auckland. Waiheke Resource Trust has also received funding for a versatile crusher that will enable locally sourced glass aggregate to be used on the island and also reduce the need for expensive transport costs to the mainland (Auckland).

Palmerston North City Council using glass as aggregate in roads

The average glass container made in New Zealand contains 64% recycled glass cullet. Every 10% of recycled glass used saves 2% of energy.

PACKAGING COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND
ACTING AS THE NZ PACKAGING ACCORD SECRETARIAT
77 Greenmount Drive, East Tamaki, Manukau
PO Box 58899, Greenmount, Auckland
PHONE: 09 271 4044, FAX: 09 271 4041