Groupe Bellemare transforms 100% of blue bin glass into new products
The new recovery system meets cleanliness and sorting standards for direct reintegration into remelting
Groupe Bellemare has demonstrated that mixed glass recovered from the blue bin can be sorted and conditioned to a level of cleanliness and consistency sufficient for direct reintegration into remelting, the process used to manufacture new glass containers. This recovery system represents the most demanding outcome in recycling: remelting accepts only clean, well-sorted glass of predictable quality.
Validated through third-party testing
The demonstration was validated by Owens-Illinois (O-I) following a rigorous qualification process focused on colour-sorted glass. Groupe Bellemare is now a reference supplier to O-I using glass from Quebec's curbside recycling stream.
This qualification is a concrete proof of concept — it shows that glass recovered from the blue bin can be transformed in Quebec into a top-quality raw material that meets the strictest requirements of the remelting industry. The glass supplied meets the sorting, purity, and predictability criteria required for reintegration into the manufacture of new containers — the very principle of the "bottle-to-bottle" circular economy.
"We built this qualification year after year, by investing heavily in research and in world-class sorting technologies. The result is clear: blue-bin glass, processed right here in Quebec, can become a bottle again. We are proud that one of the world's largest container manufacturers recognizes our glass as a reference-grade raw material — it confirms the value of the expertise we have developed in our region and the relevance of the investments made in our sector."
"I am very proud to bring together sustainable development and business development, after more than 20 years dedicated to glass recovery," shared Serge Bellemare, president, Groupe Bellemare
"The valorization of recovered glass rests on innovation, material quality, and the development of sustainable markets. The results presented today by Groupe Bellemare concretely demonstrate the potential of glass from Quebec's curbside recycling system and represent an important step forward in strengthening a high-performing recycling sector that creates value right here in Quebec. They also confirm that Quebec now has the expertise, infrastructure, and know-how needed to develop sustainable outlets and maximize the value of recovered glass," said Maryse Vermette, president and CEO, Éco Entreprises Québec
