Facts About Blue Glass

Iron impurities in glass cause it to have a blue color. Manufacturers often add cobalt oxide to glass in order to make it a deeper blue color. Blue glass is often used for cosmetics, certain wines and elite drinking waters. 

The Glass Business

• The U.S. is home to over 49 glass manufacturing plants and 65 cullet processing plants. 
• A typical plant can process 20 tons of glass each hour. 
• The glass container industry is worth 5.5 billion dollars.

Glass and Recycling

• In January of 2008, North Carolina became the first state to mandate that bars must recycle glass containers.
• Glass can be recycled indefinitely and not lose its quality.
• The energy saved by recycling one glass bottle is enough to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.
• Glass can go from the recycling bin to the supermarket shelf in 30 days.
• Cullet requires a lower heating temperature than glass from raw materials, thus requiring 40 percent less energy.