Laminated Glass Recycling Systems

Laminated glass has become a vital material across various industries, including automotive manufacturing, architecture, and transportation infrastructure. While its safety and durability advantages are undeniable, laminated glass also presents a significant recycling challenge once it reaches the end of its service life. Traditional glass recycling methods are often ineffective due to the presence of plastic interlayers, most commonly polyvinyl butyral (PVB). This is where Laminated Glass Recycling Systems play a critical role in transforming complex glass waste into valuable secondary raw materials.

The Growing Challenge of Laminated Glass Waste

Unlike ordinary float glass, laminated glass consists of two or more glass layers bonded with a PVB interlayer. This structure improves impact resistance and safety but complicates recycling. As construction projects are renovated and millions of vehicles are scrapped each year, laminated glass waste—especially windshields—has become a fast-growing waste stream.

Landfilling laminated glass is increasingly restricted due to environmental regulations. At the same time, the glass and PVB embedded in laminated structures are both recyclable and economically valuable if properly separated.

What Is a Laminated Glass Recycling System?

A Laminated Glass Recycling System is a specialized processing line designed to separate glass and PVB film efficiently, safely, and at industrial scale. Instead of crushing everything into low-grade cullet, these systems focus on controlled size reduction and precise material separation.
How the Recycling Process Works
Pre-Breaking and Size Reduction
Laminated glass is first broken into manageable pieces without excessive pulverization. This step protects downstream separation efficiency.
Delamination and Separation
Mechanical and thermal techniques weaken the bond between glass and PVB, allowing the layers to separate.Screening and Sorting
Glass fragments are screened by size, while PVB film is extracted using airflow or mechanical pulling systems.
Final Cleaning and Collection
Recovered PVB is cleaned of residual glass dust, and glass cullet is refined for reuse.
Key Advantages of Modern Laminated Glass Recycling Systems
High Recovery Efficiency

Advanced systems achieve glass recovery rates above 95%, while producing PVB film with low contamination levels.