Every year, approximately 750,000 tons of glass are collected in Poland, which accounts for just over half of the glass packaging introduced to the market. Additionally, 20% of the collected material consists of contaminants, such as ceramics and porcelain, which are not suitable for recycling. As a result, Poland loses around 400,000 tons of glass that could otherwise be reprocessed and reused. A significant portion of this loss stems from improper waste segregation and low consumer awareness. According to EU regulations, the glass collection rate should reach 70% this year.
“In Poland, as in every other EU country, recycling rates for glass and other packaging waste categories are increasing. Our journey began in 2002 when recycling levels were around a mere dozen percent. This year, we must achieve a 70% recycling rate for glass. While this is a significant target, it also means that 30% of glass will still not be utilized in industrial processes,” says Jakub Tyczkowski, CEO of Rekopol Packaging Recovery Organization, in an interview with Newseria. “That 30% will still end up in landfills, and glass factories will not be able to process it despite having the capability. Nevertheless, we must adhere to formal requirements, which dictate that 70% of the cullet or glass packaging introduced to the market should be recycled this year.”
The gradual increase in recycling levels for different materials is mandated by the EU Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste. The goal is to achieve a 75% recycling rate for glass by 2030. However, in Poland, progress toward this target has been slow, leaving the country far behind its goals.
“In 2023, businesses in Poland introduced just over 1.3 million tons of glass packaging into the market. Meanwhile, municipal data published by the Central Statistical Office (GUS) indicates that only around 700,000 tons of glass cullet were collected. It’s important to note that collection does not equal recycling since collected glass is often contaminated. Approximately 20% of it must be discarded. This means that in reality, we recycled about 600,000 tons of glass, which is less than 50% of the total introduced into the market. We expect a similar scenario in 2024—collecting and recycling approximately the same amount as last year. However, we do not yet know whether the total volume of glass introduced to the market will increase or decrease,” explains the Rekopol CEO.
The organization points out that the EU average glass recycling rate stands at 70%, with some countries achieving rates as high as 90%. Experts attribute Poland’s lower results mainly to the continued improper segregation of waste in households.
“In many households, glass is thrown into mixed waste, where it gets broken or ends up mixed with other recyclable fractions. This issue extends beyond glass; significant amounts of plastic and paper also end up in mixed waste when they should be separately collected. Statistics show that around 50% of mixed waste consists of recyclable packaging materials—representing a vast loss of resources,” says Jakub Tyczkowski.
A study conducted last year by Kantar Polska for Rekopol revealed gaps in knowledge regarding proper glass segregation, despite respondents claiming they know how to do it. Common mistakes include confusion about where to dispose of drinking glasses, mirrors, or broken plates. Nearly half of Poles believe that glass packaging must be washed before disposal, while 23% think that sorting waste is pointless since it all ends up in the same garbage truck anyway.
The “Glass Must Go On!” Campaign
Raising consumer awareness is the primary goal of Rekopol’s “Glass Must Go On!” campaign, launched last year. The initiative educates people about the importance of disposing of glass in green containers rather than mixed waste. It also highlights which materials should not be placed in glass recycling bins—such as ceramics, mirrors, and porcelain. These materials have a different composition from glass packaging and cannot be recycled in the same manner. Their presence in glass recycling bins causes significant technological problems because different types of glass have varying melting points, complicating the recycling process and leading to defects in finished products.
“Glass is a permanent material, meaning it can be recycled indefinitely. It perfectly aligns with the concept of a circular economy, provided that residents manage their glass waste correctly,” emphasizes Tyczkowski. “Glass is produced from special silica sand, combined with soda and several other chemical substances. In glass furnaces, this mixture is melted and then shaped into jars or bottles. Every ton of cullet used saves sand, soda, and other materials, making it beneficial for both the industry and the environment. Melting cullet in glass furnaces emits significantly less CO2 because it requires a lower temperature and less energy compared to melting raw sand.”
Rekopol estimates that reusing a glass bottle saves 1.1 kWh of energy—the equivalent of 22 hours of computer use, 110 hours of smartphone charging, or 157 hours of LED light operation.
“We should strive to maximize the use of cullet in glass packaging. There are, of course, technological limitations—we cannot fully replace raw materials because the glass quality would suffer. Some industries, such as those requiring high-transparency packaging, demand pristine glass. However, for wine or beer bottles, we can use a high proportion of lower-quality cullet,” explains Jakub Tyczkowski.
According to Rekopol, every glass package contains between 40% and 70% recycled glass. This is possible thanks to the high-temperature melting process—exceeding 1,000°C—which ensures the glass remains hygienic and safe for reuse.
