Building Glass Recovery Policy in the U.S.
No U.S. state or city has a policy aimed specifically at architectural glass. Where windows and glazing are kept out of landfills, it happens indirectly, through local deconstruction ordinances and C&D diversion rules: a patchwork of local measures, unlike Europe’s push for a flat glass landfill ban.
Glass-specific mandates
None found
Deconstruction ordinances
Portland, Boulder, Palo Alto, San Antonio
C&D diversion rules
California, Illinois, Florida
Last updated
October 15, 2026
Non-Architectural Glass Recovery Policy in the U.S.
Glass bottles and jars are far better covered than building glass. Deposit laws, packaging EPR and landfill bans now reach 16 states, and two states set recycled content minimums for glass containers. Auto windshields have no state recycling mandate.
Bottle bills
10 states
Packaging EPR laws
Portland, Boulder, Palo Alto, San Antonio
Recycled content minimums
California (35%), Oregon (50%)
Auto windshields
No mandate found, industry led
Last updated
October 15, 2026
Architectural Glass Recovery Policy in Europe
Europe regulates construction glass more directly than the US does. Under the EU Waste Framework Directive, C&D waste, including glass, should go through selective demolition, separate collection and high-quality recycling.
- Germany’s Commercial Waste Ordinance (GewAbfV § 8) requires construction glass to be collected separately and allows a waiver only if the reasons are documented.
- France funds recovery through extended producer responsibility (EPR) for construction products (REP PMCB, 2023), which covers windows and flat glass, with recycling targets rising from 4% in 2024 to 18% in 2027.
- Neither Germany or France requires post-consumer flat glass to go back into new float glass, so most of it ends up in abrasives, glass insulation, concrete (as a supplementary cementitious material, SCM) or aggregates.
More countries are coming soon, and we welcome your contributions.
Last updated
October 15, 2026
Help Expand the Study
SHARE WHAT’S HAPPENING WHERE YOU ARE!
Help us map architectural glass recovery worldwide! This research is a collective process, and we’re looking to add more countries beyond the US, Germany and France. If you know about architectural glass recovery policies, programs or key contacts where you are, please share them using the form below.
