Windshields from auto glass replacement (AGR) and end of life vehicles (ELV) are known as post consumer laminated glass, (versus post industrial which would be from the factory).
Laminated glass is created using two sheets of glass with a clear resin interlay between (PVB). It is the resin interlay which keeps the glass together when damaged.
Landfills
Until the introduction of this patent recycing technology there had not been any solution to recycle laminated glass on an industrial scale. Thus the windshields usually ended up in landfills.
Processing
The laminated glass is processed through the crusher which separates the glass from PVB. Approximately 90% becomes "glass cullet", which can then be recycled into a number of new products including fiber glass, while approximately 7% becomes PVB scrap (which is reprocessed into pellets and recycled into a number of new products). The remaining percentage being rubber and other scrap.
