Comparative Analysis of the Ways of Recycling Glass Containers Efficiency

Abstract

A comparative analysis has been carried out on a set of indicators of two ways of recycling glass containers � collecting in retail stores and fast washing of containers at beverage bottling plants and processing into cullet, taking into consideration the whole life cycle of glassware production, use, recycling and utilization. Methods of systematization and statistical generalization were applied for comparative analysis. The specified work was based on data, that were received from various glass manufacturing enterprises during the review procedure of the Russian National Reference Document on the Best Available Techniques (BAT) �Glass Production� in 2022, as well as according to statistical information and scientific publications. Russian Reference Documents are known in the Eurasian Economic Union and discussed as a possible background for the future research in the field on BAT and resource efficiency enhancement. The contribution of various performance factors to the cost of production and distribution of glass containers and the added value of its recycling is assessed. Economical and ecological potential and the possible impact of a change in the prevailing method of recycling glass containers on the economics of glass containers manufacturing are determined. A mathematical model has been developed that makes it possible to calculate efficiency factors for various options for resource consumption and transport logistics.