Lasinkeräyksestä

Lasinkeräyksestä is the Finnish term for glass recycling. It is a well-established practice in Finland aimed at reducing waste and conserving resources. The primary goal is to collect glass packaging separately for reuse and reprocessing into new glass products.

The process typically involves consumers separating glass packaging at home, such as bottles and jars, into designated collection bins. These bins are often found in public spaces, at recycling points, or sometimes collected directly from households. It is crucial to rinse glass containers before collection to prevent contamination and odors. Consumers are usually advised to remove lids and caps, which are often made of different materials and recycled separately. Broken glass can also be included, though it should be handled carefully.

The collected glass is then transported to sorting facilities. Here, it is further processed to remove any remaining impurities like metal caps, labels, or ceramics. Once sorted and cleaned, the glass is crushed into cullet, which is the raw material for new glass production. This cullet is then melted down and reformed into new bottles, jars, and other glass items, significantly reducing the need for virgin raw materials like sand and limestone. This circular economy approach conserves energy and minimizes environmental impact compared to producing glass from scratch.