Therapeutic Glass Recycling

Today I finally delivered the glass bottles and jars that have been rolling around in my trunk to the recycling center near my home. Some of you are lucky enough to have curbside recycle pickup. My town offers "blue bag" pickup, but not for glass and styrofoam. I know. Some of you are saying "That's too much trouble", but suspend your skepticism until I submit a wonderfully unexpected benefit of  personal glass recycling.

Of course, recycling is nothing new. Glass from Byzantine imperial times (4th century) was recycled and used in mosaic creations. During pre-industrial times "reusing" was commonplace. As it became easier and cheaper to produce goods, it also became easier (and sometimes cheaper) to throw things away. Recycling became BIG during WWII because of material shortages. Afterwards, "landfilling" became a cheap way to dispose of trash. The environmental movement began in the 1960s and 70s, and Gary Anderson designed the first recycle symbol, which is universally recognized today.                                   

If you're still reading, I'll bet you're ready to hear why I find it worthwhile to gather and rinse all my glass bottles and jars, haul them to the recycling center and sort them into overflowing Green glass only, Brown glass only and Clear glass only receptacles. First of all, I've increasingly become more aware of the impact that recycling can make on the environment my grandson will inhabit.

Recycled glass can be back on store shelves within 30 days;
or it can be "downcycled" into fiberglass or other products 

UPCYCLING! glass bottle dragonflies

UPCYCLING! mosaics

UPCYCLING! Garden path and flower bed border

Ok, here it is! Why do I recycle my household glass? I find it great fun to have permission to throw things with the express intention of breaking them! There's nothing quite like the melodic clinking-tinkling-cracking-smashing-crashing-shattering song and hollow clanging echoes from the metal bin walls as I wind up for the next pitch and the next and the next. If that doesn't inspire you to recycle your glass, I hope you'll choose upcycling glass over creating mountains out of landfills. For now, I'd rather just improve my mental health by throwing it in the big metal bin.