Iceland stops shipping deposit-return glass to the Netherlands

All deposit-return glass collected by recycling company Endurvinnslan is now being processed in Iceland instead of being shipped to the Netherlands, Morgunblaðið reports. The change is expected to cut transport-related carbon emissions by 248.9 tonnes a year, according to the company’s managing director, Jón Óskar Hinriksson.

Endurvinnslan receives more than 6,500 tonnes of glass annually. Icelandic Gámafélagið now takes the glass and crushes it into glass sand, which asphalt producer Malbikstöðin uses to make glitter asphalt. The material has already been used on walking paths and car parks.

Previously, the glass was trucked to Helguvík and shipped from there to the Netherlands. It now goes directly to Esjumelar, a shorter route. Nearly 80 percent of the material collected comes from the capital region.

Hinriksson said the glass and asphalt can both be melted down and reused repeatedly. Endurvinnslan does not receive payment for the glass and must pay to have it processed, but the cost is slightly lower than when it was exported. He said the fee could fall further if more value can be made from the material.