David Farrelly: Recycling Glass – A Truly Sustainable Activity

Event Information

The recycling of glass packaging is a truly sustainable activity. When glass in deposited into bring banks around Ireland, this glass is collected, processed and remelted into new glass bottles and jars on the island of Ireland. The use of recycled glass (cullet) in furnaces to manufacture new glass packaging takes less energy to melt than using the glass raw materials of soda ash, limestone and silica sand. The more cullet that can be used in the batch process to make glass bottles the higher the saving on energy required and the lower the CO2 footprint.

About Glassco Recycling

Glassco Recycling is Irelands largest glass recycling company accounting for the recycling of over 75% of all the glass deposited in bring banks by members of the public across c.1250 bring sites nationwide. The company collected, processed and marketed more than 137,000 tonnes of glass and cans in 2021. Glassco Recycling is unique amongst recycling companies in Ireland in terms of the diversity of its workplace. The company has long been an employer of people with special needs and currently the company employs 11 people with special needs out of a total workforce of 81.

Biography

David Farrelly (General Manager of Glassco Recycling) has held a number of management positions within companies involved in the Irish recycling sector. He also represents Ireland at FERVER which is the European association for glass recycling companies.