Glass deposits -from waste to resource!

Important results from the project

The aim was to in the future be able to decrease the amount of glass at landfills and instead value the glass as a resource instead of waste. The art glass found at landfills contains hazardous materials as heavy metals. These must be removed to be able to reuse the glass. The goal to develop a technique for refining of glass containing heavy metals from landfills to raw material of glass and metals where the refined glass contains 0.1% lead is fulfilled. The content of both arsenic and antimony is also strongly decreased in the process making it possible to develop new products from the glass.

Expected long term effects

The project result that it is possible to separate heavy metals from the landfill glass show that there are reusable resources such as glass and metals to be found in these landfills. It is thus possible to increase the circular flow of both glass and metals. Products made of the treated glass will be colored. The most likely products made from the treated glass are art glass and some kind of building components. The largest test performed in the project was of 2.5 l glass and the technique needs to be verified in a larger scale for it to be possible to commercialized.

Approach and implementation

The project has been performed by RISE Glass, Nybro municipality and Målerås glassworks. Both Målerås and Nybro has glass landfills that should be excavated at some point and has thus the users point of view on the technique. They see both the need and the possibilities with the technique. The technique is developed in 2 dl size and has been scale up to 2.5 l. A colored glass of high quality is achieved through additions. Tests in even larger scale is necessary. To find suitable products for the glass workshops have been performed with students, glass designers and art glass producers.