Nowadays, window manufacturers have a constant preoccupation for reducing the impact their products and services have on the environment. This is taken into account at all stages of the window manufacturing process: from the choice of raw material to the energy efficiency of a house with quality window profiles and, of course, the recycling and revaluation of old windows.
Old windows are definitely recyclable and this practice should be encouraged. A recycled window has a life span of about 40 years. In addition, the frames can be recycled up to 7 times, depending on the material they are made of. As such, from one single window, we get a life span of 280 years without having to exploit additional resources to make a new one.
Recycling Denver replacement windows is not cheap; it involves some significant costs related to collecting, sorting, processing and shipping the recycled components to the manufacturer. However, the final price of the window does not exceed the price of a new window and the quality is the same.
Glass used for manufacturing windows is often treated with chemicals, so different types of glass have different melting points. This means they may have special requirements, and it is good to ask the local recycler whether it is allowed to collect them in the same container or you need to look for some alternatives.
If we are talking about the glass only, here are some reasons why it is worth recycling:
- Recycling the glass from one window saves enough energy to light a 15 watts bulb for a couple of days
- Glass manufacturers benefit from recycling in many ways: recycled glass reduces emissions and consumption of raw materials, extends the life of factory equipment, such as furnaces, and saves energy.
- For each ton of recycled glass, the emission of 315 kg of harmful carbon dioxide is eliminated
- A 10% increase in recycled glass reduces particle emissions by 8%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 4% and sulfur oxide emissions by 10%
- Recycling glass creates jobs
- Once in the landfill, it takes about a million years for the glass to degrade completely.
Co-extrusion – an innovative technology in recycling PVC windows
Thanks to co-extrusion technology, the high-quality recycled core is covered with a new outer PVC layer by means of two extruders combined into a special machine. Combining the two results in a product that meets the highest standards of quality and performance. The processing and integration of the two thermoplastic materials and then their solidification results in a perfect fit.
If you plan to change the windows of your home, consider that, once dismantled, the old PVC windows do not have to go to the landfill, but can be used to make new profiles after a recycling process. This way, you enjoy all the advantages of PVC windows and contribute to protecting the environment. All you have to do is take some time to dismantle them responsibly and find a recycler in your area that will help you dispose them safely.