Are Glass Dropper Bottles Recyclable?

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Glass droppers have become an essential part of our daily lives as they assist in the administration of medication or minute fluid levels. The most basic glass dropper, also known as an eye dropper or pipette, holds about 1ml of fluid.

But the issue is not with using glass dropper bottles, it is the way a large population disposes of them.

Glass dropper bottles are mono-material, meaning they are made from a single material. From the body to all the components, everything is made from glass.

This makes them a prime candidate for recycling. Recycling is not only eco-friendly, it conserves natural resources, and provides a simple way of disposing of discarded items. That is what we will be helping you out with today, how you can easily recycle your glass droppers.

Are Glass Dropper Bottles Recyclable?

Yes. Glass dropper botttles are recyclable products and here’s why. Glass droppers are exactly what they’re named, fluid droppers made entirely from glass.

Both the dropper and the bottle are always made from a single material, glass. This means that you do not have to separate the components before putting them inside the recycling bin.

Glass is a highly valued material and can be recycled into various products. Not only is it beneficial if recycled, but it is also extremely harmful if it is not disposed of in the proper way. The glass can break at any time during its journey to the landfill and seriously harm someone.

Other than that, it also adds to the existing issue of rising landfills. To avoid exacerbating these issues, we should look toward recycling our glass dropper bottles and not throwing them away.

How Do You Recycle Glass at Home? Step-by-Step

If you are looking to recycle glass at home, glass droppers and jars are a great way to start. This is because of their mono-material property. You do not have to be careful about removing too many components as they are completely made of recyclable glass.

The first thing you’ll want to do is find a large container or dustbin where you will place all your recyclable glass. Make sure to label it properly so you do not mix in any other materials there. Your label should be informative enough so if anyone comes by, they know what items can be placed in the recycling bin and what should not.

Next, whenever you are about to place any bottle or jar (or glass dropper in this case) make sure you remove any caps or components that might be made of a different material.

This is because any impurities in the mixture can cause the new products to be weak and frail. It can also cause toxicity in some cases, especially if it is turned into a food or beverage container.

The third step is to remember that there are many types of glass and every type cannot be placed into the recycling bin. Glass used in making pyrex bowls, tea cups, or even eyeglasses, cannot be recycled with glass droppers as they are made from different glass types.

To finish off the recycling process, you will simply need to label the package and send it to a recycling plant. If you are placing the glass in a shopper of any kind, make sure the objects do not break and tear through the packaging.

How Do You Reuse Glass Dropper Bottles?

Many people do not know how to recycle properly or may find it tedious. If you aren’t a fan of recycling, you can always try reusing your glass dropper bottles. All you need to do is rinse the bottle properly and make sure there are no traces of the previously-filled liquid.

#1 Wash the Glass Dropper Bottle Thoroughly

The most important part of reusing your glass dropper bottles is to wash them thoroughly. The purpose of this step is to get rid of any remaining liquid traces from inside the bottle. This is to ensure that it does not mix with the new liquid and cause any harmful effects.

An effective way to rinse the interior properly is to fill it up with water, close the dropper bottle, and shake gently. Any trace amounts of fluid will be mixed in with the water, which you can then throw out. This will help make your bottle clean and just like new.

#2 Sterilize the Bottles

You will want to sterilize the bottles next. This can be done with something as simple as an oven or microwave. All you have to do is place them inside the oven or microwave while they are still slightly wet.

If you are using a microwave, place the dropper bottles one at a time and make sure they do not touch the walls of the microwave. Microwave them for 30-45 seconds depending on the size of the bottle. Carefully remove the jars using mitts and let them cool.

For those of you who prefer sterilizing them in an oven, the first thing to do is preheat your oven to 130-150 degrees centigrade. Place your glass dropper bottles on a metal tray and make sure they do not touch each other.

Place the tray inside the oven for 20 minutes before letting them out to cool. You can also place newspapers on the base of the tray to prevent any heat damage.

While sterilizing, always remember to remove the rubber dropper part of the bottle. This is because the rubber will melt and can intoxicate the bottle for further use.

#3 Dry the Bottles Completely

Thoroughly drying the glass dropper bottles is as important as sterilizing them in the first place! If you leave them damp after cleaning, all sorts of stuff floating around in the air can stick to the cleaned bottles, making them dirty all over again.

So, there are several ways via which you can dry the cleaned bottles.

You can use a pressurized air container to dry the bottle from the inside and outside. Just make sure that the air pressure is not high enough to make the glass crack.

If a pressurized air can is not available, you can use a cotton swab or a tightly rolled, clean paper towel to dry the bottle. But if you’re running low on time, you can invert the bottles and keep them on a dry paper towel or a clean cloth, and keep them inside a dry chamber.

Once the glass dropper bottles have dried completely, you need to store them in a sterile place to avoid contamination.

The Takeaway

Glass dropper bottles are handy, durable, and easy to use. Therefore, when you get one, you should try to use it as it can serve a myriad of purposes.

But if you don’t have any, here’s where you can get the best ones!

Faizan Khan
Faizan Khan
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