Waste Glass Recycling
Pre-treatment technology that removes stubborn contaminants from recycled glass and maximises cullet recovery.
Waste glass recycling recovers cullet whose value is reduced by contaminants such as paper, organics, metals and plastics. CFlo adds a washing pre-treatment stage that screens and washes glass which optical sorting would otherwise reject due to contamination, controlling output quality irrespective of input quality and allowing maximum recovery for remelt, aggregate and construction uses.
The contamination problem
Recycled glass brings with it many contaminants, including paper, organics, metals and plastics, all of which reduce the value of the cullet. Particle size is one of the most important criteria for end markets. Recycling operations need equipment that can cope with the unique characteristics recycled glass possesses and the challenges it brings.
Pre-treatment: the missing link
CFlo believes pre-treatment is the missing link in many glass recycling processes. By adding a pre-treatment stage, glass that would not have been recovered by optical sorting due to contamination can be screened and washed, removing stubborn contaminants and allowing for maximum recovery.
CFlo technology controls output quality irrespective of input quality, which makes subsequent glass manufacturing processes much more efficient. Guaranteeing that downstream processes run efficiently also reduces the life cycle costs of glass recycling.
Endless reuse for washed glass
The screened and washed glass can be applied for endless reuse as:
- A glass aggregate
- A drainage material for landfills
- A by-product for the construction industry
The related CFlo platform for glass recycling duty is the Reurban wet processing system.
Frequently asked questions
Why does recycled glass need washing?
Recycled glass carries paper, organics, metals and plastics, contaminants that reduce the value of the cullet and defeat optical sorting. A washing pre-treatment stage removes these stubborn contaminants, so glass that would otherwise be rejected is recovered and returned to productive use.
How does pre-treatment improve optical sorting recovery?
Optical sorters reject glass they cannot read through contamination. By screening and washing the feed first, the pre-treatment stage strips away the coatings and debris that cause those rejections, allowing maximum recovery and giving the sorters a clean, consistent material to work with.
What can washed recycled glass be used for?
Screened and washed glass can be applied for endless reuse: as a glass aggregate, as a drainage material for landfills, and as a by-product for the construction industry. Because glass can be recycled repeatedly, every tonne recovered displaces virgin raw material.
Does washing glass reduce recycling costs?
Yes. CFlo technology controls output quality irrespective of input quality, which makes subsequent glass manufacturing processes much more efficient. Guaranteeing that efficiency across the chain reduces the life cycle costs of glass recycling as a whole.
Why does particle size matter for recycled glass?
Particle size is one of the most important criteria for end markets: different applications, from remelt cullet to aggregate and drainage material, demand different gradings. CFlo's screening and washing circuit sizes the glass while cleaning it, matching the product to its market.
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