How does this solve the problem? Glass has huge costs to recycle as well. It seems the major benefit here is that there is less environmental impact if it gets tossed into the sea? Of course this has other issues such as breaking and cutting people.

IIRC glass only breaks out ahead if you reuse it. This is why you will often see coke in glass bottles in European bars, they are collected and sent back for reuse so it makes economical and environmental impact.