Abstract: A method of determining the constituents and impurities in mixed-color cullet to facilitate use of mixed-color cullet in glass manufacture is provided. A glass batch formulation is adjusted based on the measured characteristics of supplied mixed-color cullet. More specifically, certain preferred aspects of the present invention include the steps of providing quantity of mixed-color cullet, collecting at least one sample of the mixed-color cullet, performing, either singularly or in combination, particle size analysis, particle color analysis, or organics analysis of the mixed-color cullet, optionally storing the analysis results, determining a glass batch formulation, providing the cullet specification and the batch formulation to a glass manufacturer, and adjusting glass batch formulation based on the cullet specification to ensure consistent glass quality.

Abstract: An automated method for recycling mixed colored cullet glass (i.e., broken pieces of glass of mixed colors and types) into new glass products. A computer controlled process identifies the virgin glass raw materials, the desired target glass properties, the composition of a batch of mixed colored cullet, and the quantity of cullet to be used in the glass melt, and the computer controlled process automatically determines the proper amounts of raw materials to add to the batch of mixed colored cullet so that recycled glass is produced having the desired coloring oxides, redox agents, and glass structural oxides in the proper proportion. The recycled glass is then used to make glass products such as beer bottles.