Although we usually throw away glass because it's broken, you need to know how to dispose of a large piece of glass that's still intact. Whether you're cleaning a glass bottle or a broken glass door, removing glass is easy as long as you've taken some precautions beforehand.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Discarding Whole Glass
Step 1. Give it to someone else
You can give the glass to a friend or even donate it to an organization, especially a table top glass or mirror. If you donate, you'll get rid of unwanted glass while helping others, as well as preventing glass from just piling up in landfills.
Step 2. Recycle glass
Primarily, the decision to recycle glass depends on the area you live in. Mirrors, window panes, and other large pieces of glass have a different chemical composition than standard glass bottles, and many recyclers won't accept them. If the recycling center is willing to accept your window glass or other glass, chances are there is a special process for recycling it. Contact the relevant recycling center and follow all the guidelines provided.
Usually, this process is carried out by bringing the glass to a recycling center because garbage trucks are usually not equipped with the equipment to carry non-standard goods
Step 3. Contact the waste management company
If it looks like you can only take the glass to a landfill, we recommend contacting the waste management service in your area. Each company has a policy regarding the size of waste to be disposed of. For very large glass, the waste management company may not want to dispose of it whole. Try to get information regarding the weight and size limits of the waste on the site or by calling the waste management company
If you are told to reduce the size of the glass first, proceed to the second method
Step 4. Cover the glass surface with masking tape
If the shards are small enough to be removed completely, you will need to prepare the glass before removing it. Since the glass will be handled by several waste management staff, it is a good idea to make sure the glass does not break and become dangerous during the process. Start by covering the glass with duct tape. Apply tape so that it wraps around the glass to make it somewhat firm and prevent it from splintering if it breaks.
- Apply tape to the front and back of the glass.
- The more glass surfaces that are covered, the better. However, if you don't want to waste tape, just apply the tape in a big X on the front and back of your glass.
Step 5. Wrap your glass
Use bubble wrap (plastic wrap that has air bubbles) or even an old disposable blanket to wrap around the glass and secure your package by wrapping tape. That way, even if your glass is broken and isn't stuck by the tape, the shards are still being caught by the bubble wrap or blanket covering the glass.
Step 6. Label the glass wrapper
Once the glass is neatly wrapped, put a label on your glass case so the person handling it knows that your “package” must be carried with care. You simply paste the paper that says "Glass to throw away".
Make sure your writing is clear and large enough for easy reading
Step 7. Place the glass next to the trash can
Throwing the glass in the trash will waste all your efforts (including labeling the glass wrapper). So, just lean it next to the public trash can or the trash can in front of your house. You should also ensure that the labeled portion is facing outward so that it can be easily read by others.
Method 2 of 2: Discarding the Broken Glass
Step 1. Break the glass carefully
If your glass is intact, but doesn't meet the waste management company's limits, you'll need to break it into small, easy-to-dispose pieces. Lay the glass on flat ground and cover it completely with an old blanket or a few used towels so the glass doesn't scatter when you use a hammer or shovel to break the glass.
- If you have an extra used blanket that you can spread under the glass, your job will be much easier because even small pieces of this second blanket will fit.
- Otherwise, put the glass in the trash and break it there, if possible.
- When breaking glass, you must wear gloves and safety glasses or other eye protection.
Step 2. Take preventive measures
If you drop a bottle or break very large glass, always wear thick gloves and thick-soled shoes before handling broken glass. You should ensure that children and pets cannot enter the area until cleaning is complete.
Step 3. Put the large pieces into a large garbage bag
It's a good idea to start with large pieces of glass and put them in a large trash bag. Thick trash bags are ideal because they are more resistant to tearing and puncture.
It's a good idea to line a heavy trash bag with a second trash bag before you load the broken glass. This method will make your work easier than having to put a trash bag filled with pieces of glass into a second trash bag
Step 4. Suck up the glass shards with a vacuum cleaner
Once you've collected as large a piece of glass as possible, vacuum the area of the broken glass with a hosed shop-vac. Use a vacuum cleaner hose to clean an area of approximately 4.5 meters wide as broken glass can fly quite a distance.
- Make sure you use the hose connection on a shop-vac vacuum cleaner. Ordinary vacuum cleaners will only crush glass shards into smaller pieces and the suction power is weaker.
- Many people prefer to use a broom to clean the glass instead of a vacuum cleaner. However, shards of glass can easily get caught in the fibers of the broom and loose elsewhere. We recommend using a vacuum cleaner because it is safer.
Step 5. Gently pat the area with a piece of bread
Even a vacuum cleaner can pass small debris that can injure and irritate the skin. There is an easy and economical way to pick up these very small flakes, which is to pat the bread slices all over the area so that the tiny glass shards stick to the bread.
- While bread is usually readily available in your kitchen, you can also use other household items such as halved potatoes, duct tape, or a cloth roller to pick up shards of glass.
- Make sure you don't touch the part where the glass shards are attached.
Step 6. Wipe the area with a damp kitchen paper towel
Kitchen towels will be able to get the job done. Therefore, thoroughly wipe the area with a wet kitchen paper. Also, don't forget to wipe down the soles of your shoes to pick up any glass shards that got stuck there during the cleaning process.
Step 7. Put the trash bag into the cardboard box
Some companies may also ask you to dispose of the broken glass in a solid container. If so, you'll also need to place a trash bag filled with broken glass in a cardboard box, seal it, and label it "broken glass."
Step 8. Put the container in the trash with the rest of the trash
Now, the broken glass is properly wrapped and comes with a warning label so you can throw it like normal trash in the front trash can or public trash can.
Warning
- Take all precautions before handling broken glass. Wear thick gloves, eye protection, and thick-soled shoes when cleaning glass.
- Make sure pets can't reach the broken glass area. It's a good idea to cage your pet in another room before you clean up the broken glass.
