Definition: Recycling

m Glass is a perfectly environmentally friendly material that can be recycled indefinitely. For several years, the Swiss authorities have been developing a strategy to recover used glass for recycling. The results achieved have exceeded all expectations. Today, we find ourselves in a paradoxical situation: due to massive imports of foreign wines, stocks of recycled glass exceed production demand. New outlets must therefore be found for this glass, whose price has collapsed. Solutions are being tested in various places, notably in Lausanne, where the municipality has chosen to incorporate glass into building materials. Another solution is to mix glass into road asphalt. Glass washing has been able to develop in Switzerland thanks to the adoption by producers of a standard format for 50 cl and 25 cl bottles. Unfortunately, due to the low price of raw materials, new glass continues to be cheaper than washed glass. Furthermore, in the absence of studies on the overall environmental impact of washing compared to manufacturing new glass, it is difficult to know which of the two methods is better for the environment.