Recycle Glass in New Jersey: Everything You Need to Know

Recycling glass in New Jersey isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must. With densely populated cities, heavy consumption, and limited landfill space, New Jersey residents play a key role in making sure recyclable materials, especially glass, stay out of the trash. The good news? Glass is one of the most sustainable materials on Earth. It’s 100% recyclable, endlessly reusable, and doesn't degrade in quality no matter how many times it's melted down and reshaped.

That means every time you finish a bottle of iced tea, a wine bottle, or a pasta sauce jar, you’re holding an item that can live another life—without wasting energy or polluting our planet. But to make glass recycling work in New Jersey, we all need to understand what goes in the bin, what doesn’t, and how to prep it right. Here's your complete, up-to-date guide to glass recycling in the Garden State.

Why Glass Recycling Matters in NJ

In a state with over 9 million residents and high consumption rates, the volume of glass waste adds up fast. Glass doesn’t break down in landfills for thousands of years, which makes proper recycling crucial for managing waste and protecting local ecosystems.

But it’s not just about reducing landfill overflow. Recycling glass uses less energy than producing new glass from raw materials like sand, soda ash, and limestone. For every ton of glass recycled, over 300 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions are avoided. On top of that, New Jersey’s recycling infrastructure supports jobs, lowers municipal disposal costs, and contributes to a circular economy—where products are reused instead of thrown away.

What Kind of Glass Is Recyclable?

In most New Jersey towns, your curbside recycling program accepts standard container glass—the kind used for food and beverage packaging. This includes clear, green, and brown glass, all of which recycling centers are designed to process safely and efficiently. If the item once held something edible or drinkable and isn’t decorative or heat-resistant, there’s a good chance it’s recyclable.

Here’s what typically belongs in your blue bin:

• Clear glass jars (e.g., pasta sauce or jam jars)

• Green glass bottles (e.g., wine bottles)

• Brown or amber bottles (e.g., beer or medicine bottles)

  
  
  
  

To recycle properly:

• Rinse containers to remove food or liquid

• Remove any plastic or metal lids (recycle those separately if accepted)

• Never put glass in plastic bags—place it loose in your bin

  
  

Each municipality may have slightly different rules, so when in doubt, check with your local recycling program to avoid contamination and ensure your glass gets a second life.

What Glass Can’t Be Recycled Curbside?

Now here’s where it gets tricky—and where most contamination issues happen. Not all glass belongs in your curbside bin, and throwing in the wrong items can ruin a whole truckload of recycling.

Items like window panes, mirrors, drinking glasses, ceramics, and Pyrex dishes are made with special coatings or heat-treated materials that make them unsuitable for traditional glass recycling. These items either melt at different temperatures or contain additives that interfere with the recycling process. In some cases, they can even damage machinery at processing facilities.

Light bulbs, decorative glass, and colored art glass also fall into this category. While some of these items can be recycled through specialized drop-off programs or hazardous waste facilities, they should never go in your curbside bin.

If you’re not sure whether a glass item can be recycled, it’s better to check with your town’s Department of Public Works or local recycling center before tossing it in. One wrong item can contaminate an entire batch and send it all to the landfill.

How to Prep Glass for Recycling in New Jersey

You don’t need to scrub your glass containers spotless, but a quick rinse to remove any food or liquid residue is essential. Leftover sauce, oil, or drink remnants can attract pests and lead to contamination during processing, which may cause entire bins to be rejected.

To prep your glass correctly:

• Rinse all jars and bottles to remove food or drink remnants

• Remove caps and lids (metal or plastic) and recycle them separately if accepted

• Never place glass inside plastic bags—bags clog machinery and prevent staff from seeing what’s inside

• Place glass loose in your blue recycling bin with no wrappers, labels, or other contaminants

Properly prepared glass increases the chance that your recyclables will actually be recycled—and helps your entire neighborhood avoid costly contamination issues. Taking a few seconds to prep your glass goes a long way in keeping New Jersey’s recycling system clean and effective.

What Happens to Glass After It's Collected?

Once your glass is picked up at the curb, it’s taken to a local Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) or glass recycling center. There, it goes through a detailed process designed to transform yesterday’s trash into tomorrow’s products.

First, the glass is sorted by color, since clear, green, and brown glass each have different reuse potential. After sorting, the glass is crushed into tiny pieces called cullet, which is then cleaned and filtered to remove labels and any remaining debris.

Finally, the cullet is melted down at high temperatures and reformed into new containers, building materials, tiles, or fiberglass insulation. This process uses significantly less energy than creating glass from virgin materials and helps close the loop on glass waste.

Recycling Rules May Vary by Town

One of the biggest challenges in New Jersey is that recycling isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different counties—and sometimes different towns within the same county—have different rules. Some communities use single-stream systems, where all recyclables go in one bin, while others use dual-stream systems that separate paper from containers.

That’s why it’s important to check with your municipality. Most towns have a recycling page on their website with a downloadable flyer or guide that lists acceptable materials. Some even have text alerts or apps to keep residents informed about schedule changes, pickup reminders, and recycling updates.

If you're new to town or unsure of the rules, a quick visit to your local Department of Public Works can save you a lot of confusion—and help make sure your recycling efforts aren’t wasted.

Smart Glass Habits: Reduce Before You Recycle

Recycling is good—but reducing is even better. Before you even think about throwing that glass bottle in the bin, consider how you might reuse it at home. A glass jar can become a leftover container, a flower vase, a pencil holder, or a DIY gift.

You can also shop smarter. Buy beverages and pantry items in recycled glass containers when available. Look for local businesses that offer refill stations for items like olive oil, vinegar, or kombucha. The less single-use packaging you buy, the less you have to recycle.

Repurposing and reducing help take pressure off recycling facilities and move us closer to a true zero-waste lifestyle.

Make Every Glass Count in NJ

Glass recycling in New Jersey is more than a personal choice—it’s part of a statewide effort to build a cleaner, more sustainable future. By understanding what can and can’t be recycled, preparing your glass properly, and staying informed about your town’s recycling rules, you’re doing your part to protect the environment and keep local recycling systems running efficiently.

Every clean, empty jar or bottle you place in your recycling bin contributes to less landfill waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and a stronger circular economy. So keep rinsing, keep sorting, and keep recycling—because in New Jersey, every piece of glass truly counts.

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🌿 About ReGenesis Materials

As a Class A recycling facility based in Voorhees, NJ, ReGenesis Materials processes high-volume recyclables like cardboard, aluminum, paper, plastic, and glass. We partner with municipalities, haulers, and businesses to ensure material recovery is clean, compliant, and sustainable.

Interested in a recycling partnership or educational outreach? Contact us today to schedule a site tour or set up a program for your building, office park, or community.