There are returnable glass containers (e.g. large bottles) that after an appropriate washing process can be used again for the same purpose. A glass bottle can be used between 40 and 60 times at an energy cost of 5% of that for recycling the same bottle. Therefore this is the best option from an environmental point of view.
A good example of the possibilities for reusing glass containers is cava bottles. Once they have been emptied and undergone a washing process, they can be used by the different brands that make use of the same standard bottle shape.
An initiative that facilitates the employment of reusable containers is a deposit and return (DRS) system.
Domestic reuse of used containers for other purposes is another of the most common reuse options. |
