Glass waste: A crisis Bangladesh can no longer ignore

Every day, we generate all kinds of waste, and a surprisingly large portion of it is glass—a material that can be recycled endlessly. Yet so many glass items we use in our daily lives end up being discarded carelessly. 

When these pieces are not properly collected or reused, they quietly pile up in our surroundings, posing a serious threat to both our health and the environment. The solution is simple in concept: recycling or reusing glass can prevent much of this growing problem.

We often think of glass as an eco-friendly material, but without proper management, it becomes a hidden hazard. Glass buildings can trap heat in cities, and discarded glass—whether from homes, construction sites, factories, or farms—mixes with the soil, reducing its fertility, causing injuries, and adding to greenhouse gas effects that drive climate change. Experts stress that we urgently need awareness campaigns about responsible glass use, along with clear rules and policies to manage it safely.

Take the example of a waste collector in Kawla, who gathers garbage from households and deposits it at the Secondary Transfer Station (STS). While he separates plastics, old batteries, and other sellable items to sell to junk shops, broken glass often injures his hands. There is no market for shattered glass, so it goes uncollected and eventually ends up in landfills. Many people discard glass bottles or broken pieces with their household waste; some even wrap them in paper, but this does little to prevent injuries. While intact bottles can be sold, broken glass has no buyers, leaving it to accumulate in the environment.

The environmental stakes are high. Unlike harmful plastics, which can take 20 to 450 years to decompose, glass waste persists for nearly a million years because it contains no organic matter and never rots. Over centuries, discarded glass has reduced soil fertility, threatened humans, animals, and aquatic life, and contributed to global warming. Reflective glass buildings further exacerbate urban heat islands, raising temperatures in surrounding areas.

Experts note that while glass buildings are designed to retain heat in colder climates, in Bangladesh's hot environment, they have the opposite effect: they increase dependence on air conditioning, drive up electricity consumption, burn more fossil fuels, and elevate outdoor temperatures through both reflected sunlight and AC exhaust. Even government offices increasingly use glass facades, resulting in steep energy costs and underscoring the urgent need to regulate glass use in construction.

Environmentalists highlight that glass is 100% reusable. It can be melted down and reshaped without any loss of quality. Yet poor collection systems allow broken and unused glass to scatter in the environment. When mixed into soil, glass hinders root growth and water retention. Cities with many glass buildings experience higher nighttime temperatures, raising urban heat indices. Clear policies are essential: urban development plans should regulate "glass-reflective" architecture, expand recycling facilities, and introduce point-based glass collection systems. Industries and institutions using glass should also be brought under carbon tax regulations.

Globally, the impact of glass on energy demand is significant. A UNEP report on sustainable buildings notes that glass structures without energy-efficient design increase cooling demand by 50% in warm countries. The International Energy Agency reports that buildings contribute 28% of global carbon emissions, with glass high-rises contributing substantially. The Centre for Science and Environment in India finds that glass buildings in hot climates raise electricity consumption by 30–50%.

Bangladesh's glass industry began in 1961 with the Usmania Glass Sheet Factory, which was nationalised in 1972. Economic growth and rising demand for coloured glass prompted private investment, with the first private-sector sheet glass production starting in 1997. Today, Bangladesh produces over 400,000 tonnes of glass annually, meeting more than 80% of domestic demand. However, without proper management of used glass, this success is overshadowed by environmental risk.

Glass waste is becoming increasingly critical due to its rising use, long persistence in landfills, and hazard to humans. Being non-biodegradable, it not only pollutes the environment but also indirectly contributes to climate change through the energy-intensive production of virgin glass, which emits at least 86 million tonnes of CO₂ annually—primarily from heating raw materials to 1,500°C.

Glass has been valued for centuries for its durability and versatility—artefacts like the Speyer wine bottle (325–350 AD) remain intact today. Recognised by the UN as the focus of the 2022 International Year of Glass, it continues to play a vital role in food preservation, telecommunications, and other industries. Recycled glass cullet reduces energy demand, with Europe achieving a 76% recycling rate—far higher than for plastic or wood. Unlike plastics, glass does not degrade into harmful microplastics.

Yet sustainability is more complex than it seems. Virgin glass production demands vast silica sand extraction, causing land degradation, biodiversity loss, and public health risks such as silicosis, while contributing to the global sand shortage. Glass production remains highly energy-intensive, with furnaces operating at 1,500°C and generating over 60 megatonnes of CO₂ annually.

Although adding recycled cullet reduces energy use, remelting is unavoidable, and recycling rates remain inconsistent—31% in the US, with colour contamination limiting the usability of recycled material. Much of this cullet is diverted to lower-value products like insulation. Hence, while glass offers advantages over plastics, its lifecycle environmental footprint can rival or even exceed that of plastic. Responsible approaches must focus on reuse, efficient recycling, and technological innovation.

Recycling remains a key solution. Crushed recycled glass melts at lower temperatures, cutting CO₂ emissions by about 5% for every 10% increase in cullet use (European Container Glass Federation). Yet millions of tonnes of glass in countries like the US still end up in landfills, accounting for over 5% of municipal solid waste. Research shows that finely ground waste glass (<75 µm) can partially replace cement and aggregate in construction, enhancing compressive and flexural strength, water absorption, corrosion resistance, and reducing drying shrinkage—though excessive replacement risks bonding issues.

Proper particle size and mixture design can mitigate alkali–silica reactions, demonstrating that waste glass can reduce landfill loads, lower carbon emissions, and promote a circular economy. Mandatory recycling and optimised reuse are therefore essential to transform glass from pollutant to resource.

The environmental impact of glass production also includes emissions beyond CO₂. Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from sulphate decomposition, nitrogen oxides (NOx) from high-temperature reactions, and particulates from molten materials contribute to acidification, smog, and air pollution. AGC Glass Europe reports that 75% of CO₂ emissions stem from furnace operations and 25% from raw material decomposition. Over three decades (1990–2020), direct emissions fell by 30% through efficiency improvements, fuel switching, and increased cullet recycling. 

Innovations such as hot oxy-combustion, hybrid electro-melting, hydrogen substitution, and carbon capture promise further reductions. Air Pollution Control units now reduce SOx, NOx, and dust, while by-products like sulphates are recycled—demonstrating how glass industries can advance decarbonisation alongside circular practices.

In Bangladesh, a World Bank survey shows that glass makes up about 5% of all solid waste. With consumption rising by 10–12% each year and nine major manufacturers operating across the country, demand for glass continues to grow, even as silica sand reserves remain limited in areas such as Balijhuri (Sherpur), Telipara and Shahjibazar (Habiganj), Chauddagram (Cumilla), and Hathazari (Chattogram). 

Recycling could replace up to 95% of raw materials, easing pressure on the environment and conserving precious resources. This makes promoting glass recycling not just an environmental necessity but also a crucial step towards social and sustainable development.

Glass is a remarkable material—strong, versatile, and endlessly recyclable—but it only remains so when we handle it responsibly. By properly collecting, reusing, and recycling glass, we can reduce landfill waste, limit climate impacts, and protect both our communities and the natural world. It is in our hands to ensure that this valuable resource continues to serve us, rather than harm us, and to build a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future.

Nafew Sajed Joy holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Sciences from the Department of Printing and Publication Studies at the University of Dhaka.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.