One step toward a solution at least in terms of increasing supply of feed stock for recyclers is a bottle deposit. These have been proven effective where they are in place (Michigan is a great example) and the counter arguments tend to be convenience based or otherwise off topic.
Thank you for reading and commenting. One of the major problems with recycling bottles is they are heavy. Only large cities have the volume of glass to make it work. In smaller communities, the cost of collecting glass and sending it to a recycling facility is more than they will receive for the glass. As for re-using bottles, there are two significant issues— (1) makers like their distinctive bottles, so not just any recycled bottle will do, nor will mis-matched bottles work well in an assembly line (2) labels and glues are a challenge—wine labels are made to withstand handling and potentially years of aging, not to facilitate recycling. It is a problem with no easy fix—not just for wine, but for all glass containers. That said, it is a fix we must come up with. Again, thank you for reading and commenting. And Portuguese wines are among the greatest values in the wine world. Enjoy.
Hi Gus - I'm very much enjoying your prolific postings as a former BBC journalist switching from covering war to writing about wine on Substack from my new home in Portugal. My wife Ana and I are currently immersing ourselves in all things Alentejo for a podcast series as we learn about weird and wonderful grapes and plot our own plot of vines. But that's by the by...we live off the grid and so recycle every single bottle we buy...and it's a shaming experience. I'm very interested in your thoughts on re-using rather than recycling bottles...there must be some space for this to become a thing (as it used to be and sometimes still is with bottles of beer/mixers) - especially with everyone struggling with the price and even the supply here. What are the obstacles to wineries re-using bottles?
One step toward a solution at least in terms of increasing supply of feed stock for recyclers is a bottle deposit. These have been proven effective where they are in place (Michigan is a great example) and the counter arguments tend to be convenience based or otherwise off topic.
Great article today Gus.
Thank you for reading and commenting. One of the major problems with recycling bottles is they are heavy. Only large cities have the volume of glass to make it work. In smaller communities, the cost of collecting glass and sending it to a recycling facility is more than they will receive for the glass. As for re-using bottles, there are two significant issues— (1) makers like their distinctive bottles, so not just any recycled bottle will do, nor will mis-matched bottles work well in an assembly line (2) labels and glues are a challenge—wine labels are made to withstand handling and potentially years of aging, not to facilitate recycling. It is a problem with no easy fix—not just for wine, but for all glass containers. That said, it is a fix we must come up with. Again, thank you for reading and commenting. And Portuguese wines are among the greatest values in the wine world. Enjoy.
Hi Gus - I'm very much enjoying your prolific postings as a former BBC journalist switching from covering war to writing about wine on Substack from my new home in Portugal. My wife Ana and I are currently immersing ourselves in all things Alentejo for a podcast series as we learn about weird and wonderful grapes and plot our own plot of vines. But that's by the by...we live off the grid and so recycle every single bottle we buy...and it's a shaming experience. I'm very interested in your thoughts on re-using rather than recycling bottles...there must be some space for this to become a thing (as it used to be and sometimes still is with bottles of beer/mixers) - especially with everyone struggling with the price and even the supply here. What are the obstacles to wineries re-using bottles?