- Shinshu Takeei collected and disassembled window glass waste in Suwa City.
- TRE GLASS processed the glass into cullet and conducted quality checks.
- AGC verified manufacturing new flat glass using cullet at Yokohama Technical Center.
- Japan generates at least 500,000 tons of window glass waste annually.
Demonstration Overview
AGC Inc. and TRE HOLDINGS CORPORATION conducted a demonstration in Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture, focusing on the horizontal recycling of window glass waste. The aim was to regenerate window glass waste into glass of equivalent quality, promoting resource circulation and reducing industrial waste.
Process and Roles
Shinshu Takeei, part of the TRE Group, collected and disassembled window glass waste from demolition sites. TRE GLASS CORPORATION processed the glass into cullet and conducted quality checks. AGC verified the process of manufacturing new flat glass using this cullet at the AGC Yokohama Technical Center.
Environmental Impact
Japan generates at least 500,000 tons of window glass waste annually, most of which ends up in landfills or is downcycled. This initiative aims to recycle window glass waste back into high-quality applications, reducing industrial waste and lowering greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the use of cullet in glass manufacturing.
Economic Feasibility
While metal frames from discarded windows are often sold as valuable scrap, glass itself lacks a reliable purchasing mechanism. AGC and TRE assessed the costs of each step in the recycling process to evaluate economic sustainability. They aim to establish a nationwide framework to promote window glass recycling.
