August 19, 2026, 4:03 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Empty jam jars, as well as glass bottles with screw caps, are disposed of in the glass recycling container. But what about the lids–which are often made of metal? Do the lids need to be unscrewed from the glass before recycling?
Do lids need to be disposed of separately from glass recycling?
Consumers do not necessarily need to unscrew the lids from glass before disposal, according to the waste management services of the state capital Wiesbaden (EWL). Sorting facilities can identify and remove the closures, whether they are made of tinplate, aluminum, or plastic. These materials are usually further processed. However, sorting requires additional energy, as “Der Grüne Punkt” informs. This energy can be saved if the lids are disposed of separately, in the recycling bin or the yellow bag.
When disposing of glass and lids in the glass recycling container, an unscrewed lid also facilitates machine sorting by magnet. A screwed-on lid may still have glass residue, which complicates sorting and recycling.
Related: Be sure to rinse empty honey jars before disposal
Note: Lids should not be left unscrewed on or next to the container. They will remain there and must be removed by city cleaning services.
Caution! Not all glass is recyclable glass
A common mistake when disposing of glass is to include items like broken wine glasses. However, drinking glasses do not belong there! Additionally, do not dispose of light bulbs or materials like stoneware or porcelain in these containers. They can contaminate new glass if not sorted out beforehand.
Furthermore, items such as heat-resistant glass containers–like coffee machine carafes–are not considered recyclable glass. Window panes or mirror glass also do not belong in the containers. These can be disposed of at the recycling center. In general, only container glass belongs in the recycling bin. The more carefully you sort, the higher the quality of the newly produced raw material.