What to do with your empty Plastic or Glass container after use
We often get asked by our customers what they could or should do with their empty container. Some people even have a small collection of them accumulating about. Can they be returned to use and re-used? Can they be recycled? Will they end up in a landfill? We’ll get your inquiries addressed here in our latest blog article so please read on!
So, what’s recyclable and what isn’t?
Our glass jars (any size or color – from Salve to Honey):
Glass containers are almost infinity recyclable. When received at the sorting & recycling facility the glass containers, jars, bottles are first sorted by color. Then they are crushed into small pieces (shards or cullets) and any contaminants are removed. These pieces are then heated up to extremely high temperatures to make the glass molten (also further removes any impurities) and then molded or blown into new containers once again. Much of this process doesn’t require input of new or raw materials.
Recycled glass significantly reduces the amount of energy required to produce new containers compared to glass containers made from scratch (raw materials – sand, soda ash, and limestone). Consider the amount of time and resources it takes to mine/procure these materials from the planet, then have it all processed into the raw materials, and then transported to the glass container production facilities around the world.
– Our glass jars can be recycled along with your regular recyclables. Just give them a good cleaning out and wash with some warm soap and water to remove any residue and remove labels/s. Remove the lid, as both the plastic and glass are recyclable but should be separate for easier sorting at the recycling facility
– Up-cycle or Re-use. There are tons of secondary uses for your jars, such as spice containers, trinkets, bobbles, paperclips, q-tip holder, spare change container, craft supplies, and the list goes on.
– Our larger clear Honey jars can be reused in your kitchen for food storage, extra sauce or marinade jars, spices. They also make a great pen/market holder for you office or home desk.
For example, here’s one of our 2 ounce amber salve jars re-purposed into a cotton swab holder which can be put on your bathroom shelf, sink, or counter. Can also be put in your workshop are crafts area for quick and easy access.
Here’s a jar with a little decoration drawn on that we use as a pen and marker holder.
Our Tincture or Massage Oil Bottles (any size):
Tincture Bottles may also accumulate in you collection of knick-knacks. You can either recycle them or give them a second change of utility.
– To recycle them just simply wash with warm soap and water to remove most residue, as well as removing the label. They can be discarded along with your normal recycling materials. The tops however cannot be recycled in the same manner as they are comprised of both plastic, rubber, and glass. You can however keep a few droppers on hand in case one may ever fail you, there are back-ups in stock and ready to deploy.
– Up-cycle or Re-use. There are tons of secondary uses for your bottles after they are cleaned and fully dried out.
Here’s one of ours that we put some random weeds and flowers in and is displayed on our shelf for decorative purposes.
Our Capsule Bottles (any size):
– To recycle them just simply wash with warm soap and water to remove most residue, as well as removing the label. They can be discarded along with your normal recycling materials.
– They also make fantastic storage containers for small items!
