Glass has been collected and sorted in France for the past 50 years, marking it historically as the longest-standing recycled material. Despite being established for so long, the syndicates responsible for processing glass are struggling to increase the quantity of glass collected.
In 2022, 150,000 tons of glass were collected and processed within the area of Grand Paris Metropolis, that is 21 kg per inhabitant. According to a study made by Syctom on its territory, only 50% of the glass flow is recuperated by the collection and processing channels, while the rest is found in residual household waste (RHW).
Given this situation and the European objectives to promote the re-use of glass, the question is to analyse the current post-collection and processing system of glass in order to identify ways of optimising it. The purpose of this study is to establish a full picture of the glass post-collection system (collection methods, operators and logistics), and to identify the possible ways of improving the flow of glass in Syctom member municipal communes and more broadly those in Grand Paris Metropolis.
