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Can Auto Glass Be Recycled?

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The short answer is yes, windshields can be recycled. This wasn’t always the case but technology developed in the past 20 years allows them to recycled.

Windshields and the Environment

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.

How Auto Glass is Recycled

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.

Why Recycle Auto Glass?

New Uses

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.

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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.

How Do You Know Who Recycles?

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.

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What’s Next

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.

Please note, this article may contain links to Amazon products. As an Amazon Associate, Glass.com earns from qualifying purchases.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phillip Thompson

Find out more about Phillip on Linkedin.

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46 Responses

  1. 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

    1. 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.

      1. Hi I’m gaurav;
        Sir,
        Where we recycle windshield in India and in maharashtra.

  2. 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.

  3. Sir, Kindly provide me with the recycle-rs in India or else provide us with the machinery suppliers for recycling to proceed further.

  4. i’m looking a buyer for my wasted windshield glass..roughly amounted 100 ton permounth..i’m from malaysia..

  5. Hello! I am looking for a recycler located in Europe which is interested to purchase windshield waste from Romania. We can supply large quantity. Can anyone suggest me such a company ? Thanks !

  6. Hi
    My company will be manufacturing special lightweight Concrete and will need tons of Cullet.
    Would you get Richard in South Africa and Tshepiso in Botswana to contact me urgently.

  7. Ravenhill glass recycling recycle all laminated glass. Tel 0415566970. Email ravenhillexcavations@yahoo.com.au for details talk to paul. They have amachine which crushes 50 to 60 tonnes per hour which they have designed themselves.

  8. My company Laxmi Polymers recycle windshield scrap in North India and we have capacity of 500tons windshield recycling per month. Along with this we recycle PVB scrap also recovered from windshield . We can assist company for windshield and PVB recycling. Please contact us if you have windshield and PVB scrap with you. Mobile no +917507413133

  9. I’m obed from Ghana… i’m looking a buyer for my wasted windshield glass..roughly amounted 40 footer container … please contact me if interested

  10. We can help you with Windshield and PVB recycling. For more informatiom you can visit www.windshield-pvb-recycling.com

  11. There is place in South Africa I can recycle windshield,I wanna start a business recycling windshield in my country

  12. Hi, Im planning to start car scrapping business in India.
    Looking for company in India who can recycle windshield glass? Pl help.

  13. Hello
    Our company has a contract with one of the car manufacturers in Aguascalientes Mexico and we are looking for a company that can assist with recycling of autoglass.

  14. Hi.
    Visit my site windshield-pvb-recycling.com.
    May be can find a partner from Mexico for you for windshield recycling
    Regards
    Anil Rathi

  15. Do you maybe have contact details for a windscreen recycling company on the westrand of Gauteng. Thanks

    1. We are working to setting up a an Auto glass recycling plant in USA, can we cooperate. Please respond directly at jpimpexATcomcastDOTnet

  16. it’s a good article and got a lot of information from this.
    can you share seller of machinery for India?

  17. I’d like to start an automotive glass recycling program in the state/region I live in. Any information on resources and how to get started is greatly appreciated. Please send info to custom@gettinted.net

  18. We provide a full range of windshield recycling machine, running video: https://youtu.be/mGyx8jxpOrI
    Learn more: Kristinlee.recycle@gmail.com

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