How To Safely Dispose Of Broken Glass In Australia
Glass is commonly used in our homes, from alcohol cupboards, wine glasses, flower vases, drinking glasses, to plates, table surfaces or photo frames. Glass can break when moving house, downsizing your home or during DIY kitchen renovations. Cleaning up the glass is important for your safety.
Broken glass must be disposed of correctly to make sure it doesn’t harm people, animals, or the environment. So, how can you safely dispose of broken glass?
Overview
7 Steps to disposing of broken glass safely
Which types of glass can be recycled?
7 steps to dispose of broken glass safely
Broken glass cannot be placed in the yellow recycling bin in Australia. It presents a hazard for the workers who sort through the waste. Broken glass can be disposed of in the red waste bin, but must be wrapped in newspaper.
If you have broken glass and are unsure what to do – here are 7 steps to safely dispose of the broken glass:
- Protect yourself with appropriate footwear and gloves
- Seal the glass in a box, plastic bag or wrap it in several sheets of newspaper
- Tape up any cracked glass such as mirrors, dinner plates, or drinking glasses to prevent it from shattering
- Break down larger glass objects
- Clearly label the package, ensuring the garbage handler is aware there is broken glass inside
- Vacuum over the area where the glass was broken to remove smaller shards
- Place in kerbside waste bin (the red bin)
Is broken glass recyclable?
Most types of glass can be recycled by melting the glass down and reforming it into a new object. Typically, glass such as sauce jars or containers is safe to put in the recycling bin as long as they are not broken. These glass items might also be reused and repurposed or melted down to create another glass product for future use.
If you are planning DIY renovations or removing old hoarded items and you break glass, you can safely dispose of glass in a general waste skip bin.
How Is Glass Recycled in Australia?
Broken glass is taken to a recycling facility, where glass is separated by colour (clear, green, brown) and by glass type. The glass is then melted down and reused to create other products. This prevents the glass from being dumped into landfills when it can harm the environment and cause a hazard for others in the community.
Recycling glass significantly reduces the amount of energy it takes to make glass products like jars, glasses or bottles. Recycling facilities can reduce the amount of energy used to create new glass products. In fact, recycling just one glass bottle saves enough to power a computer for 25 minutes, a television for 20 minutes and a washing machine for 10 minutes.
Some types of glass can be recycled and some can’t. This is because different forms of glass are made of a variety of materials which each meltdown at different temperatures. Some types of glass, like those used for windows, mirrors, and light bulbs, contain chemicals that make it unsuitable for reuse.
Here is a list of glass that can and can’t be recycled:
Glass that CAN be recycled:
- Clear, green or brown glass bottles – such as wine, beer, soft drink, and sauce bottles.
- Glass jars – such as jams and spreads (just remember to remove the lids first!).
Glass that CAN’T be recycled:
- Drinking glasses
- Ceramics
- Oven-proof glass
- Crystal glass
- Light bulbs
- Window/windscreen glass
- Mirrors
- Medical/laboratory glass
- White opaque bottles
Safely Dispose of Your Mixed Waste With Just Skips
Whether you need to safely dispose of glass or are looking to remove any general, E-waste or have mixed waste that you need to dispose of, the expert team at Just Skips can help. Hiring a skip bin allows you to declutter the house and remove any items that may have broken glass safely.
FAQ
What is the safest method of disposing of broken glass?
The safest way to dispose of broken glass is to:
- Wear enclosed shoes
- Sweep the broken glass into a pile
- Put the broken glass into a box or wrap it with multiple layers of newspaper
- Put the broken glass into the red waste bin.
What bin does broken glass go in Australia?
Broken glass must go in the red waste bin for safe and correct disposal. If you want to recycle old glass items that are not broken, you can put them into the yellow bin.
How should you handle broken glass and where should it be disposed?
To handle broken glass, take the necessary safety precautions to prevent injury. Sweep the broken glass into a pile and put it into a box or wrap it in newspaper. The broken glass can then be put in the red waste bin or if there is a significant amount of broken glass, you can take it directly to a recycling waste centre.
People also read:
Why Does Waste Management Matter At Home?
