Written by Deirdre Mundorf | Published 11:15 AM, December 10, 2021

If you have ever broken the screens of light bulbs, glass jars, bakeware, electronic devices, you will know how sharp and dangerous glass shards are. When cleaning the glass, you are easily injured by the glass, or if the glass is not handled properly, it will bring potential safety hazards to other people who handle the garbage. Therefore, learning how to safely dispose of broken glass is essential.

So how do we safely dispose of broken glass, can you recycle broken glass? Unfortunately, in most cases, broken glass cannot be recycled, but please consult your local recycling center for confirmation. For more detailed information on the handling of broken glass, please read on to learn more about steps to avoid potential hazards.

The glass shards can be very sharp. They are also usually very small and may be scattered throughout the room with damaged items. Before you start cleaning and disposing of broken glass, remember to work very carefully.

If your municipality permits, before figuring out how to discard or recycle broken glass, make sure that all the broken glass has been picked up.

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The glass fragments are very sharp, and smaller fragments may be hidden in larger fragments. These debris can damage the skin and cause injury, so it is important to protect your hands and feet before starting the cleanup process.

If you are barefoot or wearing sandals, put on a pair of closed toe caps to ensure that your feet are protected if you accidentally step on a piece of glass. When picking up glass shards, wear a pair of puncture-proof gloves to protect your hands from injury.

Once your feet and hands are protected, find a small cardboard box to hold the broken glass shards. Carefully pick up all the glass shards and put them in the box. Keep in mind that the glass fragments can be very small, so you need to look closely at the entire area where the damage occurred. You can illuminate the floor with a flashlight to look for smaller pieces of glass. Shards of glass reflect light, making it easier for you to see them.

If there are larger glass blocks that are too large to fit in the cardboard box you are using, please break them into small pieces safely. To do this, carefully wrap the larger glass piece with an old towel or cloth, take it outside, and then tap it with a hammer to break the glass piece.

After collecting all the broken glass and putting them in the cardboard box, the next step is to seal the box. Use packing tape at the seams to ensure a firm seal and prevent glass fragments from getting out of the box.

After sealing the box, add a label to remind others of its content. Use a thick black or red marker to write "Danger: Broken Glass" on the top and sides of the box. This way, if the garbage collector or anyone else disposes of the box, they will know to handle it carefully.

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The final step in how to dispose of broken glass is to put the sealed and labeled box in a garbage bag. Then, put the trash bag in your trash can and bring it to the side of the road for your weekly pickup.

If your garbage collection date is a few days away, you may consider placing a box of broken glass on a shelf in your garage or on a high shelf in your home to prevent it from being thrown into the jar when you add other garbage. If you decide to do this, please write yourself a reminder paper and stick it on your trash can so that you don’t forget to take out the box of broken glass with the rest of the trash on trash day.

Learning how to handle glass properly can help prevent accidental injury to yourself or others (such as family members or garbage collectors). Remember that broken glass is very sharp, so be sure to wear protective gloves and closed-toed shoes when cleaning it up. Put the broken glass shards into a box, then seal and label the box before putting it in the trash can. Following these steps will reduce the possibility of shards of broken glass injuring others.

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