Public awareness on the alarming situation of waste in the UK rose when the Blue Planet II series revealed the devastating effects of plastic pollution on marine life. In an attempt to cut down on waste, the government announced the return of the drinks bottles and cans deposit scheme.
An alternative to plastic bottles is glass bottles. However, the situation isn’t that simple because different retailers do not accept reusable containers from products that they do not sell and not all containers are recyclable. This is because not all bottles are created identically unlike before World War II when most glass containers were used for refills.
The organisation of collecting empty bottles is a shared responsibility by retailers and companies. The collecting, sorting, transporting and cleaning of empty bottles require additional facilities and labour. By standardising the bottles, these processes are simplified.
While the government and companies figure out how to implement the solution to the problem, you can reuse your glass bottles at home by cleaning and sanitising them with the help of hot water, dishwashing liquid and bottle brushes.
Glass bottles are 100% reusable and if cleaned and sanitised properly can be used over and over again. Methods of cleaning glass bottles depend on their previous content. Oil, syrup, milk, juice or alcohol leave different types of residue and some may be more difficult than others to clean. Using hot water and dishwashing soap is a low-cost method of cleaning glass bottles. But in order to clean and sanitise the glass bottles for reuse, especially for consumable liquids, you will need to be thorough.
Step 1. Use hot water and dishwashing soap to remove residue.
Step 2. Scrub the glass bottles with bottle brushes to remove residue completely.
Step 3. Rinse the glass bottles with hot water.
Step 4. Use no-rinse sanitising tablets or solutions according to product instructions.
Step 5. Leave glass bottles to dry completely before refilling.
You can also use the same method to clean and sanitise plastic bottles. But use warm water to prevent plastic bottles from melting.
Glass takes millions of years to break down. By reusing glass bottles, the manufacturers will reduce the consumption of raw materials and energy needed to create the bottles, conserving natural resources. The chemicals released into the atmosphere and the landfill space otherwise used to dispose of the bottles is also reduced. This saves manufacturers and consumers time and money, making it an additional economical and eco-friendly solution to the pollution problem.
The Speedy Brush Company Ltd. provides bottle brushes to clean and sanitise bottles for reuse and recycle. We have been designing and manufacturing twisted-in-wire brushes in the UK since 1951. Our simple design and low-cost production make our bespoke brushes ideal solutions for various processes, including bottle cleaning and sanitising. Our company is dedicated to developing quality products and providing personalised customer service.
We can deliver the next working day after your purchase, on stock orders placed before 1 pm. Get in touch with us today.
