Improving Glass Collection Quality in the Hospitality Sector – Focus on Ceramics

Why the HORECA sector matters for glass recycling?

Glass packaging is widely used in beverages and food, making the HORECA sector, hotels, restaurants and cafés, a key but often overlooked player in glass recycling. Across the EU and UK, more than two million HORECA establishments consume large daily volumes of glass, particularly in touristic countries where hospitality venues act as “mega-households.”

The sector is responsible for an estimated 17% of the total glass recycling potential, largely driven by one-way glass beverage packaging disposed of directly at the point of consumption. Unlike refillable glass, this waste stream faces greater collection and sorting challenges, especially when glass is contaminated with ceramics.

Improving collection systems, adapting them to high-volume environments and raising staff awareness are essential to keep glass in a closed recycling loop.

Watch the full presentation below to learn why targeted action in HORECA can significantly boost glass recycling performance.

Watch the video! Raising awareness on separating glass and ceramics

As part of this initiative, Close the Glass Loop has produced and published a new awareness-raising video, “The Sound of Glass”. The video uses a simple but powerful message to demonstrate why glass and ceramics must be kept separate and how small actions at the point of disposal can make a big difference for recycling outcomes.

👉 Watch the video below to discover how correct separation helps keep glass recycling truly circular.

The risk of ceramics in glass packaging manufacturing

Using recycled glass is essential for a more circular industry, but it also comes with risks, particularly when ceramics, porcelain or stones contaminate the glass stream. Drawing on real-life examples from production plants, Hans Hilkes explains how even small ceramic inclusions can survive advanced recycling processes and end up in new glass containers.

Despite extensive testing, high-tech sorting systems and strict quality controls, ceramic contamination can lead to serious consequences: production disruptions, financial losses, damaged equipment and, in worst cases, health and safety risks for workers, filling companies and consumers. Bottles containing ceramic inclusions are more prone to breakage during filling, transport or use.

Preventing these risks starts at the source, with correct separation and clean collection of glass.

Watch the full presentation below to understand why keeping ceramics out of glass recycling is critical for safety and quality.

The problems caused by ceramics in glass sorting

Ceramics, stones and porcelain (CSP) are among the most problematic contaminants in glass recycling. Danny Timmers explains how these materials enter the glass stream from households and commercial sources such as restaurants and hotels, often due to simple confusion over what belongs in a glass bin.

Once inside recycling plants, removing CSP is complex, costly and energy-intensive. Despite manual sorting and advanced optical technologies, even small amounts of ceramics significantly reduce recycling efficiency, lower glass yield and increase operational costs. To meet ever-stricter quality requirements from glass manufacturers, recyclers must invest heavily in additional machinery, consume more energy and still risk losing valuable recyclable glass.

Preventing contamination at the source remains the most effective solution. Correct separation protects workers, improves recycling performance and keeps glass truly circular.

Watch the full presentation below to learn how simple actions can make glass recycling more efficient and sustainable.

The hospitality sector’s vision on sustainability and practices

Europe’s hospitality sector is vast and diverse, representing two million businesses, 10 million jobs and 3% of EU GDP. In her presentation, Marine Thizon, Senior Public Affairs Manager at HOTREC, explains how this people-centric industry, largely made up of small and micro-businesses, faces unique operational challenges, from seasonality and tourism peaks to limited space and high staff turnover.

Sustainability is a strategic priority for hospitality, not only to protect local environments and communities, but also to create long-term business value through efficient resource use. With around 30% of beverages in the EU sold in hospitality venues, the sector is a major collection point for glass packaging, making correct separation and the prevention of ceramic contamination essential.

Targeted solutions and simple staff training are key.

Watch the full presentation below to learn how hospitality can drive circular glass recycling.

Perspective from the hospitality sector in the United Kingdom

In his presentation, Jack Quick, Policy Manager at UKHospitality, highlights both the ambition and the challenges facing the UK hospitality sector on sustainability. Representing pubs, restaurants, hotels and cafés across the UK, the sector has committed to reaching net zero by 2040, with major milestones already set for 2030. However, progress, particularly on scope 3 emissions, is being slowed by intense cost pressures, staff shortages and high turnover.

Against this backdrop, new UK regulations on separate waste collection, extended producer responsibility and deposit return schemes are reshaping how hospitality businesses manage materials, including glass. These changes make minimizing contamination and improving staff awareness more important than ever.

With regulation and costs converging, now is a critical moment to act.

Watch the full presentation below to learn why this campaign is timely and how UK hospitality can support cleaner glass recycling.

Customized versions of "The Sound of Glass"

To ensure these vital recycling messages resonate across borders, Close the Glass Loop has developed a series of customized versions of "The Sound of Glass" tailored for different countries. By translating the content into local languages and adapting the call to action, we can communicate more clearly with a wider, international audience. These particular videos serve as prime examples of how national partners have taken up this tool to raise awareness and drive better separation practices within their own local communities and hospitality sector.

👉 Watch examples below to see how this campaign is speaking the local language of sustainability.