O-I believes the latest figures from the EU container glass federation FEVE show there is still "huge untapped potential" to improve the environment by recycling more glass across the continent. According to the latest glass recycling estimates published by FEVE, the average glass recycling rate in the EU remains stable at 68%. The figures indicate that around 25BN glass bottles and jars were collected throughout the EU in 2010. Of these, 80% were re-melted to make new glass containers in the "closed loop" process, FEVE estimates. Marketing Director for O-I Europe said: "We are working with a host of stake holders to increase the recycling of glass containers in all the countries in which we operate. We have ambitious targets to increase the amount we use in our production." While it believes tht the 68% rate represents a strong performance across the EU as a whole, O-I maintains that the task is far from complete. In the UK, where the glass recycling rate of 61% falls slightly behind the curve, the company is working with local authorities to increase volumes collected and to maximise closed loop recycling of glass into new bottles and jars. "We want to encourage people to keep on recycling and to consider whether any of their glass containers still slip through into general waste," said Ms Remmel.
