One of the common misconceptions about curbside recycling is that all glass is treated the same, so you can recycle glass cups, light bulbs, and windows along with bottles and jars. Believe it or not, recycling companies don’t want these items, and not just because they are more likely to break.
Windows are an example of treated glass, which is much harder to break than glass bottles. Glass manufacturers use a variety of processes and materials to make container glass (bottles and jars) and treated glass. Treated glass is strengthened with chemicals to make it stronger and less likely to break.
The glass recycling process involves melting the glass in a furnace. Treated glass requires much higher temperatures to melt, so if window glass is mixed with container glass, the entire recycling batch will be contaminated with chemicals and cannot be used in the recycling container. If all the glass being recycled was treated glass, the windows could be recycled, but windows are rarely discarded except in large-scale building demolition projects, so most recycling facilities are not set up for this.
If you’re considering replacing your windows, expect to pay between $19,000 and $35,000 for an average 2,450-square-foot home. According to consumer reports,Recycling allows some of the impact of new windows to be offset by reusing old materials.
If possible, reuse Windows
If you still have a piece of window left, consider donating it for reuse. Here are some options: Habitat for Humanity ReStore. ReStores accept and resell all types of building materials, and may accept windows from your local store. The newer and more energy efficient the windows are, the more likely they are to accept them, because customers want them for new uses.
Old windows are a great material for a variety of DIY projects, especially if the window frames are still intact. Create a bulletin board, a jewelry organizer, or even a bed headboard.
Window Recycling Options
In the recycling industry, windows are classified as construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The United States produces: Over 600 million tons of C&D waste With so much waste generated each year (more than double the amount of packaging waste in our country), many states are stepping up to help solve the problem by providing lists of C&D recyclers.
for example, Calicycle The state of California maintains a list. You can contact your state solid waste agency to see if they can recommend a company that accepts windows for recycling.
Beyond Recycling
Advances in technology are expanding the options available to upgrade older windows.
A company called Solar Window Going one step further, you can turn your windows into solar panels. The US-based company offers a spray technology that can be applied to any glass surface to generate renewable solar energy, and claims that the technology will pay for itself in energy savings in less than a year (compared to five to seven years for conventional solar panels).
The biggest problem with windows is that when they break, you are most likely to want to recycle them, and that is when they are of the lowest value in the recycling market. The risk of injury from transporting broken glass negates most of the value of the material, so if you are planning to remodel your home, make sure you keep your old windows.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on June 27, 2018 and was updated in July 2024.
