Skip to main content
  • About us
  • Events
  • News
  • Partners
  • FAQs

Search form

Main menu

  • Home
  • What to do with...
    • Popular items
    • Aerosols
    • Batteries
    • Clothing & textiles
    • Electrical items
    • Face coverings (masks) and PPE
    • Mobile phones
    • Plastic film & carrier bags
    • All items
  • Local recycling
  • Recycling knowledge
    • Getting started
    • How is it recycled?
    • Recycling around your home
    • Recycling from the bathroom
    • Food recycling
    • Recycling symbols explained
    • Facts and info
    • Northern Ireland
    • Recycle Week campaign
  • Reduce waste
    • 5 easy steps to reduce waste
    • Buying habits
    • Repair and re-use
    • Packaging and storage
    • Donate, sell and swap
    • Junk mail
    • Composting

What to do with

Glass bottles & jars

Please note that recycling collections and facilities may be affected by the COVID-19 situation. Please check with your local authority for updates about services. Read more

Glass bottles and jars are widely recycled
Lots of local authorities collect glass for recycling and bottle banks can be found in most areas. Enter your postocde below to find out if you can recycle glass bottles and jars at home.
Enter your postcode

What glass can I recycle at home?

Yes pleaseNo thanks
Bottles of any colour, e.g. wine, beer, spiritsGlass cookware, e.g. Pyrex, microwave plates
Jars, e.g. sauces, jam, baby foodDrinking glasses
Non-food bottles, e.g. perfume, aftershave, face creamsCeramics, e.g. crockery, earthenware
Vases
Nail varnish bottles
Mirrors
Light bulbs and tubes

Why can't I recycle some glass items?

Some types of glass do not melt at the same temperature as bottles and jars. If they enter the glass recycling process it can result in new containers being rejected. These items should be recycled separately - check with your local household waste recycling centre.

How to recycle glass bottles and jars

  • Put lids and caps back on. This reduces the chance of them getting lost during the sorting process as they can be recycled separately.
  • Empty and rinse - a quick rinse will do. Leftover liquid can contaminate other recyclables which may mean they aren't recycled.

Glass bottles and jars - how are they recycled?

  • At bottle banks, blue glass goes in with green glass.
  • Corks should be removed from bottles before they are recycled but can be home composted.
Did you know?

What to do with...

  • Popular items
  • Aerosols
  • Batteries
  • Clothing & textiles
  • Electrical items
  • Face coverings (masks) and PPE
  • Mobile phones
  • Plastic film & carrier bags
  • All items

Related content

Find out how to recycle:

  • Crockery and cutlery
  • Light bulbs
  • Pyrex
  • Saucepans
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Register for useful recycling news and tips delivered straight to your inbox

Around the UK

  • Recycle Now
  • Recycle for Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Wales Recycles
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Community guidelines
  • Cookies
  • Contact

Brought to you by WRAP

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (which operates as WRAP) is a registered UK Charity No. 1159512 and registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 4125764.

Registered office at Second Floor, Blenheim Court, 19 George Street, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 5BH.