When your windshield breaks, if the damage can’t be repaired, then it will need to be replaced completely with a new windshield. At one time, broken windshields ended up in landfills, but over the last decade many companies have begun to recycle auto glass.
The ability to recycle automotive glass may still be a fairly new endeavor, but the opportunity exists and continues to grow. And that glass doesn’t have to end up in a landfill.
Recycling glass from windshields is not all that hard, and it’s good for our environment. Because windshields typically are made with two layers of glass along with a plastic membrane, called PVB, in the middle, it used to be difficult to recycle the glass. Now machines are available to recycle all types of glass -including windshields.
It’s not quite as simple as you might think; it’s a very different process than recycling glass bottles or containers, because most windshields are made from laminated glass. Laminated glass is manufactured by sealing two layers of glass together with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer. The PVB interlayer is what helps the windshield to stay intact in the event of an accident and helps provide important structural support to your vehicle’s roof.
When windshields are recycled, though, that PVB must be separated from the glass. In most cases, the used windshields are first pulverized or crushed. After that, a machine separates the glass from the PVB. The glass is processed into something called “glass cullet,” which can be used in a variety of applications, such as concrete, fiberglass insulation, asphalt and more. The PVB also can be used for various adhesive applications.
Because this process is so difficult, many auto glass companies have entered into agreements with laminated recyclers to recycle windshields and subcontract their recycling after replacing the windshields.
Glass is one of the most adaptable substances on earth, with almost countless uses. Recycled windshield glass is no exception. It can be recycled into bowls, vases, bottles in the much the same manner as other recycled glass. Artists are also fond of using recycled glass to build mosaics, and some companies manufacture tiles and other household surfaces from recycled windshield glass.
A company in Columbia makes recycled windshields into very heavy wine glasses (available here). Some buildings today incorporate actual windshields into their designs, such as the Artists for Humanity Gallery in Boston, where recycled windshields have been repurposed into a decorative rail on its mezzanine.
Several auto glass companies have started their own windshield recycling program. JN Phillips anticipates saving 5 million pounds of glass and plastic from going to landfills annually. The website Glass.com shows a “we recycle” badge for auto glass companies that say they recycle windshields, a very helpful tool as you choose an auto glass service provider.
Your auto glass service provider should be able to tell you whether your windshield will be recycled or re-purposed. Use the glass.com auto glass locator service today to book your windshield replacement and learn more about auto glass recycling. Look for the “We Recycle” badge to see which shops are promoting their recycling efforts.
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Hi
Our company has a contract with one of the car manufacturers in SA and we are looking for a company that can assist with recycling of autoglass.
Regards
Hi Nkululeko,
PG Glass is a windshield dealer in South Africa that recycles their windscreens. You may want to reach out to them for a recommendation. Another resource you can try is africa.recycle.net.
Thanks!
I have a salvage yard so I have scrap windshields
Not sure I have enough for you.
Pewee Valley, KY USA
Auto salvage yard. Would like to recycle
Where to start
Hi Rosemary,
You could go one of two routes- Either process the glass yourselves after purchasing the proper machinery, or getting in touch with a third-party recycler who could take the glass off your hands and process it. Good luck!
Hi there, we a bew company that removes 99% of glass from windscreens and arcitectural sheets. So we will have roughly 100 tons of clean glass cullet per month. We looking for a ling term buyer for our glass. We in South Africa but shipping anywhere is no problem..also our PVB is 99% glass and contamination free.
Excuse the spelling. Phone
small for these hands it seems..
Where do we recycle windshield in India and in maharashtra
Shark Solutions is a leader in windshield recycling. We recommend contacting them to find out if there are recycling centers near you.
Dear sir,
Where to buy the machine for auto glass recycle?
Thank you
Shark Solutions is a great resource.
Is there any place in Michigan that recycles glass in Michigan
Hi Ron,
Shark Solutions is a great resource for glass recycling.
Thanks for the question!
Hello, Shark Solutions is very informative, though we do not get any info on auto glass recycling anywhere in India. It will be of great help if someone can provide me with more info.
Hi, Is there any place in Malaysia that recycles windshields?
Sir, Kindly provide me with the recycle-rs in India or else provide us with the machinery suppliers for recycling to proceed further.
Hi Balachandran, we are based in the USA and unfortunately not as familiar with international recycling resources. You may want to try using this directory.