It is National Glass Week this week (16-22 June), and Project Integra, Hampshire’s waste management partnership, is using the event to remind residents of the benefits of recycling glass. The week promotes the use of glass for a variety of stylish, quality containers for food and drinks, but how many of us actually take the time to recycle them when they are empty?

Research suggests that glass bottles and jars make up 4% of the overall waste stream – about 44,000 tonnes. However, over 50% (24,000 tonnes) are just dumped in residual household waste bins. This is the equivalent of around a million bottles and jars that end up in landfill every week in Hampshire alone, which costs approximately £800,000 every year.

Recycling glass couldn’t be easier. With more than 800 bottle banks all over the county in Household Waste Recycling Centres and car parks, you are never far away from one. Glass is infinitely recyclable meaning it can be recycled time and again without reducing quality. Recycling old glass also ensures that less quarrying has to take place for sand and limestone to make new glass.

National Glass Week is your chance to make a "glass promise." People accepting this challenge promise to use/buy glass packaged products wherever possible, and then recycle them appropriately. Remember – glass is much easier to recycle than many other food packagings.

National Glass Week is being supported by many celebrities, including Gary Lineker, Graham Norton and Joanna Lumley. Popular celebrity chef Kevin Woodford said: "As a chef I use a lot of food and drink packaged in glass. Recycling bottles and jars is a way we can all reduce the amount of rubbish we generate and make a positive contribution to the environment. Glass recycling saves energy, cuts emissions, and reduces quarrying and landfill."

Councillor Keith Estlin, Hampshire County Council’s Project Integra Board representative added: "Recycling glass is easy. With so many bottle banks all over Hampshire, everybody can do their bit for the environment by visiting one nearby to recycle. It is just another step in Project Integra’s aim to get Hampshire recycling 40% of its waste by 2006."

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For further information, please contact Paul Laughlin, on 01962 846629.