A listener from Fife in Scotland, asks why their council replaced separate clear, green and brown bottle banks with a single mixed-glass recycling bin. We explain why glass colour still matters, how advances in sorting technology now allow recyclers to separate colours efficiently, and why simpler collections are becoming the norm. We also explore why different products use different coloured glass and reveal the curious imbalance between the UK's demand for clear glass bottles and its surplus of green glass from imported wine.
This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 79 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 29th January 2026.
While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.
These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast
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Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF
