Are Empty Wine Bottles Recyclable?

There’s nothing quite as relaxing as enjoying a glass of wine at the end of a busy tumultuous day. It’s not only great for your nerves but it can also help with digestion.

But the more wine you take, the more empty bottles you have lying around your house.

And if you’re trying to live a sustainable life, it can be particularly tricky trying to figure out how to get rid of these bottles.

Fortunately, this is where we come in – today’s post is going to discuss all things wine bottle disposal.

Can you recycle wine bottles?

Yes, wine bottles can be recycled. However, some state’s recycling programs don’t accept them. As such, you should always confirm that your local authorities accept them before tossing them in your recycle bin.

Are colored wine bottles recyclable?

Yes, colored wine bottles are recyclable. In fact, any type of colored glass bottle can be recycled.

Why aren’t wine bottles sometimes recyclable?

There are several reasons why wine bottles are sometimes not recycled. For one, sometimes they aren’t properly color sorted. Secondly, since they are heavy, transporting them to recycling facilities, especially far-off ones, can be expensive.

How do you dispose of old wine bottles properly?

Once you confirm that your local authorities accept wine bottles, you should ensure that yours are empty – if you can, rinse them to get rid of extra drops of wine.

Afterward, separate them according to their colors – clear, green, and brown.

Then place the different heaps of bottles in different plastic bags and toss them in your recycling bin.

What happens to recycled wine bottles?

When wine bottles reach the recycling facility, they are sorted, cleaned, and crushed to form what is known as a cullet.

Afterward, the cullet is mixed with sand and limestone then melted in a furnace at a temperature of between 2600 and 2800 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact temperature required depends on the type of glass being melted.

Whatever the case though, the molten result is used to create other objects like beads, tiles, fractionators, fiberglass, underlays, and new glass bottles. Interestingly, new glass objects can be made of up to 70% recycled glass.

Is there anything else you can do with empty wine bottles besides recycling them?

Even if your local authorities don’t recycle wine bottles, you don’t have to throw them in the trash – you can easily reuse them.

Here are a few ways you can reuse a wine bottle:

1. As a vase
   One of the most popular ways to reuse your wine bottles is to use them as vases. They are big enough to hold at least one flower stem.
2. For storage
   You can comfortably use wine bottles to store rice, lentils, and even M&Ms.
3. As a light display
   If you’re looking for a new and creative way to decorate your home this Christmas, consider using your old wine bottle as a light display. All you have to do is drill a 0.75-inch hole at the back of the bottle and feed string lights through it.

Reuse then recycle

Ultimately, the most sustainable way to deal with empty wine bottles is to reuse them and then find a way to recycle them.