A HOUSEHOLDER is calling for Bolton Council to clarify its recycling policies — after binmen refused to take his glass window.

Ian Greenhalgh, aged 67, from Jesmond Road, Smithills, had a double-glazed window replaced and put his old one alongside his other glass products, ready for the council’s recycling teams to remove on collection day.

But he was “flabbergasted” when the council would not take the glass away.

He said: “I would have thought it is just normal glass and I can’t understand why they wouldn’t take it.

“I mean, glass is glass isn’t it?”

“I don’t mind taking it to a waste recycling centre but not everybody has that option. It seems a bit like bureaucracy gone mad to me.”

Bolton Council has said sheet glass, used for windows, has different properties that means it must be recycled through a different process.

A spokesperson added: “Bolton Council can only accept glass bottles and jars for recycling and this is specified in all material which is given to residents.

“Unfortunately sheet glass has different properties to glass bottles and jars and cannot be recycled into new glass through the same process.

“Sheet glass can be taken along to any Household Waste Recycling Centre.”

Mr Greenhalgh has contacted his ward councillor, the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Bolton, Roger Hayes, who has said he is puzzled by the issue.

Cllr Hayes said: “I must admit I was surprised to hear that the council cannot take sheet glass for recycling. If it is in all the literature then that is fair enough, but I would like to find out a bit more about the reasons why.”