Glass recycling in Italy
Glass packaging that is not reused directly – such as many beverage bottles in return systems in other countries – should always be placed in a collection container and not in the general waste. This is because, in terms of volume, recycled glass packaging is the most important resource for the manufacture of new glass products. Even in ancient Roman times, glass products were melted down after use and recycled.
The consortium CoReVe (Consorzio Recupero Vetro), founded in 1997, is responsible for the collection and recycling of container glass in Italy. CoReVe organises the collection in containers or by pick-up and the recycling of glass packaging nationwide. Collection and sorting are carried out locally by municipalities and regional waste disposal companies, while processing and transport to the production plants are handled by specialised recycling companies.
The first Italian law on waste disposal dates back to 1941 and regulated the disposal of solid municipal waste. Presidential Decree 915 of 1982 introduced the concept of recycling and established the obligation to collect, reuse and accurately recycle waste. In 1988, legislators addressed the issue of separate collection in urban centres. Two further laws, passed in 1997 and 2006, provided specific guidelines for separate collection methods.
It is therefore not surprising that, according to CoReVe, the collection rate for glass packaging in Italy has reached 88 percent in 2022, equaling around 2.5 million tonnes of glass in the same year.
Glass recycling at Vetropack
In Italy, Vetropack reuses fully processed and pre-sorted cullet at its Boffalora sopra Ticino site and does not operate its own recycling plant.
Vetropack is constantly working towards increasing the proportion of recycled material used in glass production. In Italy, the share of recycled material purchased for use in production is currently 30 percent for flint glass and 40-60 percent for green and brown glass. This contingent is further supplemented with up to 30 percent of Vetropack’s own cullet before being used to produce new glass containers. As part of its Strategy 2030, Vetropack continuously strives to reduce its own ecological footprint, improve the proportion of recycled material along the entire value chain for both single-use and reusable containers, and improve access to core resources (mainly cullet).
FAQ's
Bottles (wine and juice bottles, bottles for vinegar, oil, etc.), food jars (jars for jam, pickles, pesto, etc.), perfume bottles and deodorant rollers, medicine bottles, disposable glass spice mills and glass bottle caps belong in the glass container (e.g., Vino-Lok on wine bottles).
Glass products other than glass packaging are best disposed of in residual waste or at a recycling centre. These include flat glass (window glass, windshields), glass tableware (drinking glasses, ovenware, vases), heat-resistant preserving jars, candle holders, light bulbs (incandescent bulbs, neon tubes), screens, mirrors and borosilicate glass (laboratory glassware, vaccine vials). Stoneware, porcelain, and ceramics are not glass and should not be placed in the collection container.
The easiest way to find the nearest glass collection point in Italy is to use Google Maps. You can search for a map showing the locations of glass containers (‘campane per il vetro’) or waste glass containers in the area. Alternatively, it is also worth taking a look at the website of the local city or municipal administration or the local waste disposal company. These usually list all official collection points and often provide further information on opening hours and special collection points.
You can typically find green glass containers accessible to the public in residential areas or near supermarkets. In addition, some regions have recycling centres (e.g. in rural or tourist areas) that accept glass and other recyclable materials. In other areas, glass is collected by direct pick-up.
Glass packaging does not need to be rinsed out before disposal, but it must be empty. Bottle caps and container lids should be removed and disposed of separately. Glass packaging should also be placed gently in the container so that it does not shatter too much. The smaller the shards, the more difficult it is for the processing plants to remove foreign matter. And of course, the surrounding residents will thank you – glass should also preferably be disposed of during the day and on workdays and not at night.
Further information
Additional information on glass recycling in Italy is available at
https://www.ricicloinitalia.it/filiere/vetro/
https://www.mase.gov.it/portale/web/guest/economia-circolare