How to dispose of broken glass?
Check out the best way to package and dispose of broken glass.
How to dispose of broken glass is certainly a question that has crossed the minds of anyone who has ever broken glass in their life. And who has never broken or will ever break a glass object accidentally?
But before disposing of broken glass, it must be packaged properly and then sent for recycling or to 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:
Throwing broken glass in the regular trash , although easy, is not the best option, as it is far from being environmentally acceptable.
Think about the garbage collection and transportation workers
A few minutes of dedication when packing broken glass can make a difference in the destination of the waste . This is because, when we pack the waste correctly, we make it easier to transport and ensure the safety of the collection workers.
How to pack broken glass
If the glass shards are small, you can use a plastic bottle to pack them. To do this, remove the label from the plastic bottle and throw it away with other recyclable plastics. Then cut the bottle in half, insert the broken glass shards , use the top of the bottle to cover the container and place it inside a bag. Try to use gloves or a dustpan and broom to avoid injury.
However, we don’t always have PET bottles at home (so it’s a good idea to keep some in reserve). In this case, you can use cardboard packaging, such as juice and milk cartons; and resistant plastic packaging with a lid, such as chocolate powder. To use cardboard packaging, you need to cut it in half and use the same method as for the PET bottle. The problem is that cardboard packaging is not transparent, which makes it impossible for street cleaners and workers in cooperatives to see the contents inside the waste. So, give preference to transparent and resistant packaging when disposing of broken glass .
If the broken glass is large, you will need to wrap it in cardboard and masking tape. Write on the packaging that it contains glass and take it to a collection point near your home. To find out which collection points are closest to your home, check out the free search engines on the eCycle Portal .
Allocate correctly
There is no point in packaging broken glass correctly if it is not disposed of properly. In some cities, the city government offers a selective collection service. However, if there is no such service in your area, you need to ensure that the broken glass will be recycled . To do this, you can take it to recycling and collection points closest to your home .
But remember: common broken glass is different from the glass from a computer monitor or fluorescent lamp, for example. The latter two cases require extra care when handling, as they are more dangerous.
