If you run a pub, manage a bar or keep hospitality operations flowing, you know how quickly glass bottles stack up behind the scenes. From beer and cider to wine and spirits, glass is part of daily service, but it soon becomes a heavy, space-hungry problem.
With new food and waste legislation coming into effect, plus growing pressure to meet ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, there’s never been a better time to rethink how you handle glass waste. Smarter waste habits not only help protect the environment, but they can also save your pub money and free up valuable storage space.
Here are five simple but effective ways to manage glass waste better, cut costs, and boost your pub’s recycling performance - all while making your business more sustainable.
Glass waste is a growing challenge in UK pubs
Glass might seem easy to dispose of, but in a busy pub it can quickly become one of your biggest waste headaches. Because glass is dense, bins fill up fast, often needing frequent collections just to keep up. And the more collections you need, the higher your waste management costs climb.
There’s also a safety risk. Overfilled bins and broken bottles behind the bar can cause injuries or damage, especially during busy shifts. On top of that, if glass ends up mixed with general waste or contaminated with food and liquids, it becomes much harder to recycle.
That’s why glass recycling for pubs is so important. Glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. But even so, too much still ends up in landfill, wasting valuable resources and adding to your business’s carbon footprint.
By rethinking pub waste solutions and adopting smarter habits, pubs and bars can reduce costs, boost recycling rates, and run more sustainable pub operations. First Mile’s Recycling Standard sets out how businesses can recycle more effectively and avoid landfill.
5 smart ways to cut glass waste and improve recycling
If you're curious about how to reduce glass waste in bars, these five smart solutions will help you cut costs and recycle more.
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Separate glass at the source
The easiest way to improve glass recycling for pubs is to separate glass bottles straight away. Instead of mixing bottles with general waste, encourage staff to place them directly into dedicated glass bottle collection UK bins behind the bar. This prevents contamination and keeps the glass clean and fully recyclable. Clear bin signage and regular staff training can make this second nature for your team.
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Use a glass crusher or compactor
For pubs with limited bin space or high collection costs, glass crushers or compactors can make a huge difference. These machines reduce the volume of glass waste by up to 80%, meaning fewer bin collections and lower disposal costs. Crushed glass remains fully recyclable when processed by a specialist provider like First Mile.
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Reduce breakages behind the bar
Broken glass isn’t always suitable for recycling, so preventing breakages saves both waste and money. Use protective matting in busy areas and train staff on safe glass handling techniques. Less breakage means more glass can be recycled, and fewer hazards for your team.
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Choose returnable or reusable bottle schemes (if available)
Some drinks suppliers offer bottle return schemes. These allow you to send bottles back for reuse, reducing the amount of glass waste generated in the first place. Fewer bottles in your bins means lower collection costs and less frequent pickups.
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Audit your current glass waste output
Start by tracking how many bins you’re filling and how often they’re being collected. Small changes to your collection schedule or recycling frequency could result in cost savings.
Working with a hospitality recycling services partner like First Mile gives you access to detailed waste reporting. Learn more about how First Mile helps businesses streamline their recycling with our range of waste and recycling services.
How does glass recycling support your ESG goals?
Sustainability isn’t just good for the planet - it’s good for business too. More and more customers are actively choosing pubs, bars and hospitality venues that show they care about their environmental impact. By managing your glass waste responsibly, you’re not only reducing costs but also strengthening your sustainable pub operations.
Recycling more glass means less waste heading to landfill and lower carbon emissions. It also makes it easier for pub groups and chains to report on their environmental performance, which is an increasingly important part of pub waste management under ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitments.
Plus, your sustainability efforts can be a valuable part of your marketing. Sharing your recycling achievements on social media, your website or through green accreditation schemes shows your customers that you’re serious about doing the right thing, and that makes your venue more appealing to eco-conscious visitors.
How does First Mile support pubs with glass waste collection?
At First Mile, we make pub waste solutions simple, flexible and fully sustainable.
Our glass recycling for pubs service includes:
- 7-day collections to match your trading patterns
- Colour-coded bins that make glass separation easy for your staff
- Flexible collection schedules that adapt as your needs change
- A zero to landfill promise — ensuring your glass is always recycled
- Carbon reporting and real-time waste tracking to support your ESG reporting
And we don’t just collect glass. We also offer full hospitality recycling services, including food waste, general waste, mixed recycling, and more, designed to help you cut costs and boost sustainability.
Running a busy pub?
Discover how First Mile helps with reliable, sustainable glass collection and much more. Find out how we can help your pub.
