The diagram illustrates the step-by-step process by which glass bottles are collected, recycled, and transformed into new products.
Overall, it is clear that the glass recycling process is a continuous loop consisting of three main stages: collection and transportation, cleaning and sorting, and melting followed by remanufacturing into new containers for commercial sale.
In the first stage, used glass items are deposited at a designated collection point by consumers. These collected materials are then loaded onto a large truck and transported to a cleaning plant. During the second stage, the glass is thoroughly washed using high-pressure water. Once cleaned, the bottles are categorized and sorted into three distinct color groups: brown, green, and clear, before being transferred to the recycling plant.
In the final stage, the sorted glass is melted inside a furnace to produce recycled liquid glass. This melted glass is then combined with new liquid glass and poured into a mould to shape new bottles. Once molded, the newly created glass containers are distributed to supermarkets, where customers purchase them, thus restarting the cycle.