It is very difficult to extract Pb from lead bearing waste glass as Pb atoms are fixed firmly in the glass network.

The Pb in leaded glass can be extracted in NaOH solution after mechanochemical reduction with metallic iron as additive.

The mechanochemical reduction process with iron follows the scheme: [PbO₃] + Fe → Pbmod − O + FeO.

A novel hydrometallurgical process for recovering Pb from lead bearing waste glass in alkaline solution is proposed.