Glass collection for pubs, bars and restaurants: get offers from UK collectors
Post what you have, free, and the UK glass collectors and recyclers who cover your area contact you with offers. No account needed, and your listing is live in two minutes.
Get offers for your glass
Tell UK buyers and waste carriers what you have and where it is. Your listing goes live straight away and the businesses that are interested contact you directly.
What glass is worth
Recycled glass (cullet) sells for little per tonne, and because glass is heavy, haulage takes most of that. So for a pub, bar or restaurant the money is in the collection charge rather than in a sale: a dedicated glass collection costs less than sending bottles out in general waste, and colour sorted glass in volume can be collected free or even paid for. Clear glass is worth the most, then amber, then green; mixed colour glass is worth the least. Flat glass from windows is a separate stream and must never go in with bottles.
Types of waste glass
Colour and type decide the value and the route.
| Type | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clear | Clear bottles and jars, also called flint | The best paid colour |
| Amber | Brown bottles | Mid range |
| Green | Green bottles | Often the lowest of the three colours |
| Mixed colour | Unsorted bottles and jars | Lower, as it must be sorted or used as aggregate |
| Flat glass | Window and plate glass | A separate stream. Never mix it with bottles |
| Laminated and toughened | Windscreens and safety glass | Specialist recyclers only |
How to prepare glass for collection
- Keep glass in its own bins, away from general waste, cans and food. Bottles only need to be empty, not washed.
- Keep out crockery, drinking glasses, light bulbs, mirrors and window glass; they melt differently and contaminate a load.
- Sort by colour only if a collector asks for it and you have the volume; a mixed glass bin is normal for most venues.
- Ask about bin sizes and lift frequency so bins are full but not overflowing; most collectors charge per lift.
- Say how many bins or bottles a week you produce, because a regular round is what collectors price for.
How a collection works here
- Post your glass in the form above: what it is, roughly how much, where it is and how often it comes. Two minutes, no account.
- Your listing goes live at once. Buyers and waste carriers who are logged in press Show contact details and get in touch directly; carriers who asked for alerts in your area hear about it the next morning.
- Compare the offers: the charge per lift or per bin, bin sizes and frequency, and whether sorted glass earns a rebate. Check the collector's registration, agree terms and keep the transfer note.
- A week later we email you once to ask whether anyone got in touch, with one click to remove the listing when the material has gone.
Your legal duties for glass waste
- Duty of care. Hand your glass only to someone authorised to take it. Check the collector on the Environment Agency public register of waste carriers before the first collection; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland keep their own registers.
- A transfer note for every load, on paper or as a PDF, or one annual note for regular collections of the same material from the same site. Keep it for two years. What a waste transfer note must include.
- Carrying it yourself. If you take your own business waste to a buyer, register first as a lower tier waste carrier. It is free. Who needs a waste carrier licence.
- Separation at work. In England, workplaces must keep dry recyclables (glass, metal, plastic, paper and card) and food waste apart from general waste for collection, with paper and card collected separately from the other dry recyclables unless your collector agrees otherwise. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees have until 31 March 2027. The Simpler Recycling rules.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own versions of these rules. This is a plain English summary, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Will anyone pay for my glass?
Rarely for a single venue. Glass is heavy and low in value, so most venues pay for collection; the saving against general waste is the point. Large, clean, colour sorted volumes can be collected free or paid for, so post what you have and let collectors make offers.
Can window glass go in with bottles?
No. Flat glass melts at a different temperature and contaminates bottle glass. It is a separate stream with its own collectors.
Do bottles need to be washed?
No, only emptied. Labels, caps and small residues are removed during processing.
Does my business have to separate glass?
In England, yes: glass is a dry recyclable that workplaces must keep apart from general waste for collection. Smaller businesses with fewer than 10 employees have until 31 March 2027. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separation rules.
Is it really free to list here?
Yes. Posting is free, you do not need an account, and we take no commission. Collectors register free to see your contact details.
More help
- Glass recycling prices UK, updated monthly
- The directory: UK companies that collect or buy glass, by area
- Collect or buy glass? Get an email when it is listed in your areas, and claim your company page
- Sell cans: aluminium and steel can recycling for pubs, bars and businesses
- Sell cardboard: get offers from UK buyers and collectors
- Save on waste management
- Commercial glass recycling: an honest look at the economics
- Glass recycling near me: household and business routes
- Commercial waste bins: sizes, lifts and getting it right