On: How A Used Bottle Becomes A New Bottle, In 6 Gifs

[Dylan16807]

That's because glass doesn't take a whole lot of energy in the first place. And it's not like the primary goal of recycling is energy saving.

[samatman → Dylan16807]

Rather, it is because electrolytic smelting of bauxite is enormously energy intensive, compared to the melting of sand, glass, or aluminum.

[bcoates → Dylan16807]

For glass and aluminum, energy saving is the whole game for recycling. If energy were free there'd be no recycling of either.

[ars → Dylan16807]

> And it's not like the primary goal of recycling is energy saving.

Really? And what is the primary goal of recycling glass then?

Fair notice: if you say conservation I'm going to laugh at you.

[ComputerGuru → ars]

I would have said reduction of garbage/landfill.

[aaron695 → ComputerGuru]

The whole landfill thing has always prayed on human's inability to get to bigger picture. They see a dump and somehow think it'll take over as time goes by.

Dig a hole, put rubbish in it, push dirt on top 50 years later and you get a nice park.

Don't think it's safe for humans on top, even better a guaranteed wildlife refuge.

[sp332 → aaron695]

My town dump still had readable newspapers in the lower levels by the time they thought they could put a park on top.

[deelowe → ComputerGuru]

People take issue with putting sand in landfills?

[Dylan16807 → ComputerGuru]

Yep.