Broken Bottles, Broken System: Reigniting America’s Willpower to Recycle Glass
MURMRX
SUSTAINABILITY • REAL TALK
SUSTENTABILIDAD • SIN FILTRO
BROKEN BOTTLES, BROKEN SYSTEM
BOTELLAS ROTAS, SISTEMA ROTO
Glass is infinitely recyclable. The problem isn’t glass—it’s our willpower. Here’s how we fix it together.
El vidrio es infinitamente reciclable. El problema no es el vidrio: es nuestra voluntad. Así lo arreglamos—juntos.
Endlessly Recyclable: glass can be remelted and remade without losing quality.
Energy Win: recycling a single bottle can save enough energy to power a light bulb for hours.
Landfill Loss: much U.S. “recycling” still sends glass to landfills due to contamination & low market demand.
THE NEXT TIME YOU THROW SOMETHING AWAY, ASK YOURSELF:
- How long ago did I buy this? Today? Yesterday? Last week?
- How long did I actually use it? A day, a month, a year?
- Did I repurpose it—or did it barely serve me before I trashed it?
That same piece of glass may not see daylight again for thousands of years—maybe 8,000. Long after we’re gone, our trash remains, outliving us and reminding the Earth of our habits.
HOW WE FIX IT
- Separate glass — use drop-off sites or dedicated bins.
- Support bottle deposits — push for 5–10¢ refunds statewide.
- Buy & return reusables — support businesses with bottle-return loops.
- Demand recycled content — ask brands for % of recycled glass.
- Lead locally — set up building or neighborhood bottle banks.
Comments
Post a Comment