The provided flow chart illustrates the various stages involved in the recycling of glass bottles, starting from their initial collection from the public to the final production of new bottles at a glass factory.
Overall, the process is a multi-stage cycle that requires transportation, classification, and high-temperature treatment to transform used glass into new products. The procedure involves several distinct phases, including mechanical processing and chemical transformation.
Initially, glass bottles of different colours, specifically green, brown, and clear, are collected from the public. These are then transported to a facility where they undergo a classification stage to remove metal and plastic caps. Following this, the bottles are sent to a processing plant where they are broken down into smaller pieces. These broken glass fragments are then transported to a furnace, where they are combined with additional raw materials.
In the final stages, the mixture is heated to a temperature of 1200 degrees Celsius, resulting in a melted mixture. This molten substance is then utilised at the glass factory to manufacture new bottles, effectively completing the recycling loop. The entire process ensures that waste glass is efficiently repurposed into usable containers.