Turn the Tide.

Did you know that a standard glass-milk bottle in the UK can realistically be reused around 25-30 times (depending on return and handling systems) before it’s recycled? That makes it far more energy efficient than single-use plastic alternatives. And when that glass bottle finally reaches the end of its reuse life, it can be recycled indefinitely.

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UK households still use billions of plastic bottles every year. For example, one survey found that the average household uses over 500 plastic bottles per year, but only recycles about 325 of them – leaving roughly 175 bottles unrecycled annually. (RECOUP) In data, it was estimated that about 5.5 billion plastic bottles escape household recycling each year in the UK, ending up littered, incinerated or landfilled.

 

As for glass milk bottles, one note: many currently contain about 35% recycled glass content, so the tipping point is this— the more glass we recycle, the more recycled glass gets used in new bottles, and the more energy is saved.

 

Another important dimension: doorstep milk delivery (the reusable glass milk-bottle model) is still relatively niche. While exact up-to-date percentages are hard to pin down, earlier figures suggested it was only around 3% of the UK liquid milk market. If we could raise that share, it would significantly reduce plastic-waste burden in the UK and also directly support local dairies.

 

Help us Turn the Tide and find your local milkman - findmeamilkman.net

 

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