How to discard broken glass?
Check out the best way to pack and dispose of broken glass
How to discard broken glass is certainly a question that has crossed the mind of anyone who has broken glass at some point in their lives. And who has never broken or will accidentally break any glass object?
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But before disposing of broken glass, it must be properly packaged and then disposed of for recycling, or landfill if it is not recyclable, as is the case with tempered glass. To find out which types of glass are and are not recyclable, take a look at the article: "Are all types of glass recyclable?"
Throwing broken glass in the trash, while easy, is not the best option as it is far from being environmentally acceptable.
Think about garbage collection and transport workers
A few minutes of dedication when packing the broken glass makes the difference in the destination of the garbage. That's because, when we pack the waste correctly, we facilitate its transportation and the safety of the collection workers.
How to pack broken glass
If the glass shards are small, you can use a PET bottle to wrap them. To do this, remove the label from the PET bottle and dispose of it with other recyclable plastics. Then cut the bottle in half, insert the broken glass shards, use the top of the bottle to cap the container and place it inside a bag. Try to use gloves or a shovel and broom so as not to get hurt.
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To see how to pack broken glass and check out other tips that make the job of scavengers easier, check out the video.
However, we don't always have PET bottle packaging at home (so it's good to leave some in reserve). In this case, it is possible to use carton packs such as juice and milk carton packs; and resistant plastic containers with a lid, such as powdered chocolate. To use the carton packs it is necessary to cut them in half and use the same method as the PET bottle. The problem is that the carton packs are not transparent, which makes it impossible for street cleaners and cooperative workers to see the internal contents of the disposal. So give preference to transparent and resistant packaging when disposing of broken glass.
If the broken glass is large, it will need to be wrapped with cardboard and masking tape. Write on the packaging that contains glass and take it to a collection point closest to your home. To check which collection points are closest to your home, check out the free search engines at eCycle portal .
Aim correctly
It is no use packing broken glass correctly if it is not properly disposed of. In some cities there is a selective collection service offered by the city hall. However, if this type of service is not available in your area, you must ensure that the broken glass is recycled . For this, you may send it to recycling and collection points closer to your home.
But remember: ordinary broken glass litter is different from monitor glass on a computer screen or a fluorescent lamp, for example. These last two cases require extra care in handling, as they are more dangerous. To know how to dispose of electronic objects and fluorescent lamps, take a look at the articles:
- Where and how to dispose of fluorescent lamps?
- How to discard LCD, Plasma or LED TVs?
- What to do with old computer?
- What to do with my old cell phone?
