July 13, 2025, 1:54 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Glass belongs in the glass container—that’s obvious from the name. But can the lid stay on the empty jam jar, or should it be removed? Many people likely ponder this question when standing in front of the glass container. After all, the lid is made of metal, not glass.
When you take old glass to the container, it gets recycled and eventually turned into new glass for bottles or jars. The best part is that glass can theoretically be recycled endlessly. However, it’s important to dispose of the glass correctly so it can be properly processed. But what does “correctly dispose” actually mean? On many glass recycling containers, you’ll find numerous lids–such as those from jam jars. Many people unscrew these before tossing the glass into the container. But is that even necessary?
Do You Need to Dispose of Lids Separately When Recycling Glass?
Consumers don’t necessarily have to unscrew the lids before disposing of glass, as the waste management services of the state capital Wiesbaden (EWL) inform. Sorting facilities can detect and remove the closures, whether they are made of tinplate, aluminum, or plastic. These materials are then potentially further processed. However, sorting requires additional energy, as “Der Grüne Punkt” informs. This energy can be saved if you dispose of the lids separately, in the recycling bin or the yellow bag.
When you dispose of glass and lids in the glass container, an unscrewed lid also makes it easier for machines to sort using magnets. A screwed-on lid can still have glass remnants, which complicates sorting and recycling.
Related: Be sure to rinse empty honey jars before disposal
Note: Do not simply leave unscrewed lids on or next to the container. They will remain there and must be removed by city cleaning services.
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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, you should not dispose of light bulbs or materials like stoneware or porcelain in these containers. These can contaminate the new glass if not sorted out beforehand.
Furthermore, items made of heat-resistant glass–such as coffee machine pots–do not count as recyclable glass. Window panes or mirror glass also do not belong in the containers. These can be disposed of at the recycling center instead. 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.