Recycling Week is here, and this year’s theme is “Rescue Me! Recycle” – and it’s all about giving overlooked glass items a second life.
While most of us know wine bottles and jam jars can go in the recycling, there are plenty of other glass products hiding in our homes that people don’t realise can be rescued too.
Here are 9 surprising glass items you can recycle, along with quick tips on how to prepare them properly:
Medicine bottles
Those little brown or clear glass medicine bottles (non-prescription or empty ones) are recyclable, provided they haven’t held anything hazardous or toxic, e.g. a bottle of cough syrup.
How to prepare: Just give them a good rinse – no need to remove labels and baby, you can leave your cap on! That’s right, caps and droppers are all removed during the recycling process.
Perfume bottles
That beautiful glass perfume or aftershave bottle doesn’t have to end up in the bin.
How to prepare: If you can easily twist off or pull out the spray pump/nozzle, great, but it’s not a necessity. Just give the bottle a light rinse, then pop it into the recycle bin.
Candle jars
Once the flame is gone, the jar can live on.
How to prepare: Freeze the jar to harden wax, scrape out the remainder, then wash with warm water before recycling.
Cosmetic containers
Face cream and moisturiser jars are often glass under the lid.
How to prepare: Scoop out any leftover product, rinse, and recycle. Remove plastic or metal lids.
Premium soap bottles
Luxury liquid soap and lotion often come in sturdy glass bottles.
How to prepare: Simply remove the pump dispenser, rinse the bottle, and recycle the glass.
Vinegar bottles
That empty balsamic or malt vinegar bottle belongs in the recycling bin.
How to prepare: Remove the cap and rinse thoroughly.
Dessert jars
Small but mighty – dessert pots like mousses or posh yoghurts are fully recyclable.
How to prepare: Rinse, peel off foil lids, and recycle.
Baby food jars
Don’t bin them – baby food jars are 100% recyclable.
How to prepare: Wash, remove the lid, and recycle both the glass and metal lid separately.
Olive oil bottles
Glass bottles for olive oil or speciality oils can be recycled once emptied.
How to prepare: Let the bottle drain completely, give it a rinse with hot water, and recycle.
Why it matters
Glass is infinitely recyclable – it can be melted down and remade into new bottles and jars again and again without losing quality. By rescuing these often-forgotten items, we stop them from going to landfill and give them a second life.
So next time you’re about to throw away a perfume bottle, candle jar, or even a baby food pot — remember: they’re calling out to be rescued!
Rescue Me! Recycle.
