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PhrasesRecycling and WasteLe campane del vetro sono in piazza.
A2

Le campane del vetro sono in piazza.

The glass collection bells are in the square.

Pronunciation

KAM-pa-ne — stress the first syllable; the 'e' at the end is clear, not reduced.

When to use it

Use this to direct someone to the shared glass recycling containers. Campane (bells) describes their shape — large green domed containers. In many Italian town centres they are sited in or near the main piazza.

What it means

Campane del vetro are large communal glass collection containers, typically green and bell-shaped. They accept all colours of glass: bottles, jars, and broken glassware (wrapped safely). They do not accept Pyrex, crystal, ceramics, or mirrors, as these have different melting points.

Variations

Nel bidone del vetro ci vanno solo bottiglie e vasetti.

Only bottles and jars go in the glass bin.

Clarification of what is accepted.

Non mettere il Pyrex con il vetro: si smaltisce diversamente.

Don't put Pyrex with glass: it's disposed of differently.

Common mistake; Pyrex has a higher melting point and contaminates glass recycling.

Togli i tappi prima di buttare le bottiglie.

Remove the lids before throwing away the bottles.

Good practice; metal caps go in metals, plastic caps in plastics.

Mini Dialogue

— Dove butto questi barattoli di vetro della marmellata? — Nelle campane del vetro, quelle verdi in piazza. — Devo togliere i coperchi? — Sì, i coperchi di metallo vanno nella plastica e metalli, e risciacqua i barattoli prima.

— Where do I throw these glass jam jars? — In the glass bells, the green ones in the square. — Do I need to remove the lids? — Yes, metal lids go in plastics and metals, and rinse the jars first.

Cultural Note

Italy is one of Europe's top glass recyclers: over 76% of glass packaging is recycled, fed by a dense network of campane. The glass is melted and remade into new bottles — a genuinely circular process. Italian wine and olive oil producers are among the biggest consumers of recycled glass.