GLASS GLASS GLASS GLASS GLASS 
DEVELOPMENT OF A PROCESS FOR THE 
IN-HOUSE RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF 
GLASS FROM GLASS-MANUFACTURING WASTES 
Project Fact Sheet 
B E N E F I T S 
• Reduced solid waste landfilled 
and associated disposal costs 
x 2 
• Reduced use of raw materials 
• Minimized energy consumption 
• Reduced CO and NO emissions 
• Improved efficiency 
• Reduced production costs 
A P P L I C A T I O N S 
The process will be used to purify 
and upgrade glass-forming and 
glass-manufacturing waste 
streams. The technology could 
also purify post-consumer glass 
fibers such as those used in 
insulation and other composite 
fiberglass products. 
NEW SEPARATION TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW GLASS 
MANUFACTURERS TO RECYCLE GLASS WASTE STREAMS 
This project is pursuing technology that will enable the glass industry to 
recycle waste streams cost-effectively. With this recycling capability, the glass 
industry can prevent the landfilling of over 60,000 tons of non-biodegradable 
waste glass annually. Glass manufacturers will also benefit from the 
associated waste disposal costs. 
2 
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory will study glass impurities, the 
major cause of filament breakage that has hindered recycling efforts in the 
past. By treating these imperfections, this new separation technology will 
create a glass waste stream that can be recycled economically. The use of 
recycled glass will reduce energy consumption, resulting in lower CO and NOx 
emissions. 
ESTIMATED U.S. FIBERGLASS PRODUCTION 
WASTES 
A considerable amount of fiberglass waste is generated at glass manufacturing 
facilities, and can easily be collected for recycling. 
OFFICE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES 
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Project Description 
Goal: Develop technology that will enable the glass industry to recycle its glass-forming 
and glass-manufacturing wastes into new glass without increasing the rate of glass 
filament breakage or adversely affecting glass quality. 
This project will produce a separation technology for the purifying and upgrading of 
glass waste streams by examining the glass/impurity interface at the break point. A 
process that can detect and remove these impurities would prevent filament breakage, 
eliminating a major economic barrier to glass recycling. 
Researchers from Argonne National Laboratory will study the imperfections in waste 
streams. The Advanced Photon Source (APS) and Electron Microscope Facility (EMF) 
may be used to identify discontinuities in the glass structure and detect impurities. 
Argonne will then test thermal and chemical methods to purify the glass waste. 
Economic evaluations of these methods will be conducted to ensure that the most 
technically efficient and cost effective method is chosen. 
Progress and Milestones 
• The project was awarded in late 2000. 
• The research plan revolves around four major milestones: 
– Identification of impurities in waste materials 
– Development of a process to purify waste glass 
– Production of recycled materials for test runs in glass melting/glass forming 
operations and product manufacturing 
– Development of a demonstration plan 
PROJECT PARTNERS 
Argonne National Laboratory 
Argonne, IL 
CertainTeed Corporation 
Blue Bell, PA 
Vetrotex America 
Wichita Falls, TX 
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, 
PLEASE CONTACT: 
Elliott Levine 
Office of Industrial Technologies 
Phone: (202) 586-1476 
Fax: (202) 586-3180 
E-mail: elliott.levine@ee.doe.gov 
Please send any comments, 
questions, or suggestions to 
webmaster.oit@ee.doe.gov 
Visit our home page at 
www.oit.doe.gov 
Office of Industrial Technologies 
Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy 
U.S. Department of Energy 
Washington, D.C. 20585 
January 2001