Current environmental directives to conserve resources and to divert waste streams have generated significant interest in mineral recycling. In this respect, this preliminary study has demonstrated that lithium metasilicate can be prepared by hydrothermal reaction between waste container glass and lithium hydroxide solution at 100 °C. Minor proportions of calcium hydroxide, calcite, lithium carbonate and trace amorphous silica were also produced during the reaction. In addition, this research has shown that at least 30% of the labile lithium cations of lithium metasilicate can be exchanged for Zn2+ ions. Further work to optimise the yield and to appraise the antimicrobial properties of Zn2+-exchanged lithium metasilicate is now warranted.