Can Broken Glass Be Recycled?

Glass is undoubtedly one of the most important materials of our time. Not only does it make cute windows and mirrors, but it also creates some of the best food containers.

But while a lot of glass products can be recycled, most of us aren’t sure what to do with broken glass.

Some believe they should throw it out, others are hell-bent on throwing it in the recycle bin.

Fortunately, this is the predicament we are going to help you solve today. In this post, we are going to answer all your questions on broken glass disposal.

Can broken pieces of glass be recycled?

While broken pieces of glass can be recycled, they can’t be returned to how they were before their breakage. For instance, pieces of glass from a broken bottle can’t be recycled back into a bottle. Instead, they can be used as additives to tiles or fiberglass.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a few types of glasses aren’t recyclable, whether they are broken or not. These include mirrors and ceramics.

Can you throw broken glass in the recycling bin?

When it comes to recycling broken glass, you should be careful – don’t just throw it in the bin. Doing so makes it a safety hazard for people who work at recycling plants.

That’s why you shouldn’t even wrap up broken glass in paper and throw it in the trash bin – it can cut through the paper and hurt anyone handling it.

How do you properly dispose of broken glass?

The best way to dispose of broken glass is to recycle it. To do so though, you’ll need to identify a recycling facility that accepts this type of glass.

So before you choose this path, always ask your local authorities for some recommendations.

If you can’t find a facility that will take the broken glass off your hands though, you’ll only have one choice left – to throw it in the trash.

To safely do this, you’ll have to:

1. Securely wrap the broken glass in a piece of cloth
2. Use a hammer to gently break the glass into smaller pieces
3. Lift the cloth with the glass and place it in the box
4. Add a layer of cloth on top of the glass, close the box, and seal it with strong tape
5. Make a label by writing in red on a large white paper. Use words like danger and broken glass to warn anyone who will handle the box. You can even attach a danger sign to the box
6. Place the box on a high shelf and wait for garbage day. You can even create a reminder to remind you to place the box in the trash

Is broken glass biodegradable?

Broken glass isn’t biodegradable. In fact, it can stay intact in the environment for hundreds of years.

Avoid breaking glass

Ultimately, it’s easier to dispose of unbroken than broken glass. So if you want to avoid wastage, avoid breaking your glass products as much as possible!