1. Does it really conserve energy if I recycle my container glass? -Recycling one glass container saves enough energy to keep a 100 watt light bulb burning for 4 hours. Producing glass from recycled glass uses less energy than preparing glass from raw materials.

2. How much raw material is saved due to glass recycling?

1.2 tonnes of raw material (sand, limestone, soda ash) is saved when a tonne of glass is recycled.

3. Is it true that glass biodegrades or decomposes? NO!!!

It is absolutely amazing how many people get this wrong!
Biodegradation and decomposition are biological processes. Glass is abiotic.
It will not compost! Abiotic means that glass is not a "living being" whereas "biotic" refers to plants and animals.
Glass does eventually break-down, but it takes about 1 million years for a single glass bottle to break down. Glass is only broken down by weathering and physical crushing or pounding.

4. Do labels and lids need to be removed before container glass can go in the blue box?

In some communities, both need to be removed, in others the processor's equipment is sophisticated and labels and lids come off when the container glass is readied for the furnace. Check with your programme to be sure!

5. Why is it important to clean up container glass before it gets recycled?

There are two answers to this question. One, from the perspective of the recycler who picks materials at the curb, and one relates to the batch plant manager (the person that makes new glass containers out of your recycled glass container and virgin materials).
Food or juice left in any container can attract pests: flies, bees, wasps, cats, rats and dogs, but not elephants, at least not in Canada. Would you like it if you had to deal with an angry wasp when you tried to pick up a container? Not likely. Rinsing out any container, glass, plastic or metal is a health and safety issue for those who are involved in handling containers between your house or school and the glass furnace. There are a lot of people who are allergic to bees too, maybe even you!
Food or left over juice does not pose a problem in the re-manufacturing of new glass containers because the furnace is "too hot to handle".
How hot does it get? To get the control on this, see glass ingredients and read the message from our "Master Chef, Chevy".