How to Throw Away Glass Safely

PDF download Download Article
Get rid of broken glass or whole glass panels with this helpful guide
PDF download Download Article

So you need to dispose of some glass, but you’re not quite sure about how to do it safely. You’ve come to the right place! We’ve compiled a helpful guide on how to discard glass, whether you’re cleaning up a shattered bottle or getting rid of an old mirror or window panel. We’ll also provide some helpful insights from home cleaning specialist Daniel Olin. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

How to Throw Away Glass

  • Throw broken glass away in the regular trash (not recycled). Put the glass in a cardboard box or inside 4 layers of trash bags. Label it as “broken glass” and put it in your garbage bin.
  • Put whole or flat glass (windows, mirrors, tabletops, drinkware) in the regular trash. Cover the glass with duct tape, wrap in bubble wrap, and label it “glass for disposal.”
  • Glass bottles and jars can usually be recycled. Simply rinse them out then place them in your recycling bin for pickup.
Section 1 of 3:

Disposing of Broken Glass

PDF download Download Article
  1. Always put on work gloves or very thick rubber gloves and thick-soled shoes while handling broken glass to protect yourself from getting cut. [1] You should also keep kids and pets away from the area until you’ve finished the cleaning process.
    • Even if you think the broken glass is only in one small area, it’s safest to keep children and pets out of the room completely, explains Olin.
    • “You would be surprised how far glass can travel,” Olin says. “Once that breaks, you may discover a shard halfway across the room from the glass that you dropped.”
  2. “You can generally safely use a broom and dustpan to sweep up the big chunks. Put them in a cardboard box if you have one because [the shards] are likely to cut through trash bags,” says Olin. If you don’t have a cardboard box, Olin recommends putting the pieces of glass into four layers of thick garbage bags to prevent any punctures or tears.
    • Alternatively, you can also wrap the pieces of glass up in several layers of newspaper and secure it all with tape, but this works best for a small amount of broken glass. [2]
    • Disposing of broken glass in this way is important because it protects sanitation workers from getting injured. If you put the broken glass directly in a garbage bin without any protective coverings, the sharp shards may cause cuts when sanitation workers come to collect your trash.
    Advertisement
  3. Whether you used a cardboard box, placed the glass in several layers of trash bags, or wrapped it up in newspaper, make sure to clearly label it with the words “broken glass.” You can write the words directly on the cardboard box, or write them on a piece of paper then securely tape the paper to your trash bag or newspaper parcel. Now that your glass is properly contained and labeled, simply put it in your regular garbage bin or place it in your community’s dumpster. [3]
  4. Once you’ve collected the larger pieces to the degree that you can, go over the area with the hose attachment on your vacuum. [4] Make sure to cover the entire area up to approximately fifteen feet away, since broken glass can fly quite far.
    • Make sure you use the hose attachment! A conventional rolling vacuum will only crush the glass into even tinier shards, and it lacks the suction power of the hose.
  5. Even a vacuum can miss some of the tiny pieces of broken glass. To get these super small shards, Olin recommends using damp paper towels. “The key to picking up smaller pieces is going to be wet paper towels that you can just throw away. So ideally, you'd want to use several paper towel rolls that are damp to pick up the glass that's left on the floor,” he explains.
    • “You're also going to want to wear gloves and long pants that cover your knees while you're doing this because you're going to want to crawl around and closely inspect all areas of the floor before you finish. It can be very easy for some small pieces to escape you,” Olin says.
    • When you're completely done, remember to wipe down the soles of your shoes to get any glass dust you may have picked up during the rest of the cleaning process.
    • And that’s it! You’ve now safely and successfully disposed of your broken glass.
    6. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Disposing of Whole Glass

PDF download Download Article
  1. Flat glass includes things like mirrors, window glass, and tabletops, as well as dinnerware, drinkware, and ceramics. In the case of mirrors or glass table tops especially, you may be able to give the object to a friend or donate it to a charitable organization. [5] If you can’t give it away, check with your municipality to see if they accept flat glass for recycling.
    • Whether or not you’ll be able to recycle your specific piece of glass depends on the area where you live. Mirrors, window glass, and other large pieces of flat glass have a different chemical composition than standard bottle glass, so many recycling plants don’t accept them. [6]
    • If your municipality does accept window glass, etc., then they'll likely have a specific process for it. Contact them and follow any specific instructions.
    • This process will most likely involve taking the glass down to a recycling center, since the trucks that run recycling routes aren't typically equipped for nonstandard items. [7]
  2. If it looks like sending your glass to the dump is the only option, then you’ll want to start by contacting your area’s waste management service to see if they will pick it up. [8] Different companies will handle waste of different sizes. For truly large pieces of glass, your waste management company may not dispose of it in a single piece. You'll likely find information with weight and dimension restrictions on the company's website or by calling.
  3. If the waste management company says your piece of glass is small enough to dispose of whole, you’ll need to take some steps to prepare it. Since multiple waste management personnel will have to handle the glass, you want to help ensure that it doesn't break and become a hazard in the process. Start by covering the surface of the glass with duct tape. [9] Tape across the glass will help keep the pieces in place and limit splintering in the event that is does break.
    • Tape both the front and back surfaces of the glass.
    • The more of the surface you cover the better, but if you don't want to waste a large amount of tape, then you can simply place a large X across the front and back surfaces. [10]
  4. Use bubble wrap or even an old blanket that you don't mind discarding to completely wrap up the glass. [11] Secure the bubble wrap or blanket with more duct tape to make sure it stays in place. This way, even if the glass does break, it will still be contained by the wrapping.
  5. Once you have the piece of glass properly wrapped, label the exterior of the wrapping, so that anyone who handles it knows to do so with a bit of care. A note as simple as "Glass for disposal" will suffice. [12]
    • Make sure the writing is both clear and large enough to read.
  6. Since throwing the piece into a dumpster would defeat the purpose of labeling it, simply place the glass beside your personal or community receptacle. [13] You should also ensure that the labeling faces outward and can be easily seen.
  7. If your piece of glass exceeds the waste management company’s size limits, they may instruct you to break it up first. Place the glass down flat on the ground, and cover the entire pane with an old blanket or several old towels to keep the shards in place. Next, use a hammer or shovel to break the pane into smaller pieces. Finally, follow the steps listed in the previous section to dispose of the broken pieces.
    • When breaking glass, always be sure to wear gloves and goggles or other eye protection.
    EXPERT TIP

    Bicycle Glass

    Glassblowing Experts
    Bicycle Glass Co. was founded in 2016 by David Royce and Michael Boyd, two professional glass experts. Bicycle Glass is primarily a lighting company, committed to quality, sustainability, and affordability. All Bicycle Glass products are made of high-quality, recycled glass and are hand-blown by a dedicated team of artisans. The studio is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by conserving energy in all of its production. Using renewable wind energy to offset all electricity usage, the studio is actively working toward the goal of carbon neutrality. Bicycle Glass believes that high-quality, handmade glass products should be within reach for everyone.
    Bicycle Glass
    Glassblowing Experts

    Always prioritize safety when working with glass. Make sure to wear proper protective gear and carefully handle the glass. This applies to all processes, including installations, polishing, cutting, or breaking. Follow safety protocols to prevent accidents and achieve successful outcomes.

    8. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Can you recycle glass?

PDF download Download Article
  1. As a general rule of thumb, glass bottles and jars are safe to be recycled. On the other hand, items like window glass, mirror glass, auto glass, standard light bulbs, crystal, pyrex, stemmed drinkware, and ceramics will usually need to be thrown away, instead. [14] These types of glass are usually treated with chemicals that ultimately make them unrecyclable.
    • If you’re not sure whether the glass waste you have is recyclable, check with your city’s sanitation or waste management department.
    • To recycle glass bottles and jars: Make sure they are completely empty, rinse them out thoroughly, and remove lids. Place the clean jars and bottles in your recycling bin. [15]

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I have a number of small, medium, and large pictures which are framed and are all faced with glass. How can I dispose of these?
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    Try taking them to a thrift store.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 15
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • Take every precaution when handling broken glass. Wear gloves, eye protection, and thick-soled shoes when cleaning up glass.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Make sure you keep pets away from broken glass. You may want to shut them in another room while you clean up.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Remove a Glass from a Garbage Disposal
      How to
      Make a Burn Barrel
      What to Do If You Forgot to Put Your Garbage Out for Collection
      How to
      Dispose of Both Used & Unused Cooking Oil
      The Safest Ways to Get Rid of Aerosol & Spray Paint Cans
      How to
      Dispose of a Condom
      The Best Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Flat Screen TV
      How to
      Fix a Jammed Garbage Disposal
      How to
      Dispose of Lithium Batteries
      How to
      Dispose of Bleach
      How to
      Destroy an Old Computer
      How to
      Dispose of Batteries
      How to
      Dispose of a Helium Tank
      How to
      Dispose of a Credit Card
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/sustainability/dispose-broken-glass-safely.html
      2. ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/sustainability/dispose-broken-glass-safely.html
      3. ↑ https://www.orlando.gov/Trash-Recycling/What-Goes-Where?_escaped_fragment_=rc-page%3D231724&lang_update=638713292607116689#!rc-cpage=231755
      4. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/mercury/cleaning-broken-cfl
      5. ↑ https://www.beverlyma.gov/227/What-Can-Be-Recycled#!rc-cpage=296150
      6. ↑ https://sanitation.lacity.gov/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-wwd/s-lsh-wwd-s/s-lsh-wwd-s-r/s-lsh-wwd-s-r-rybb?_adf.ctrl-state=2f2ahub8o_1&_afrLoop=10665816218219064&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#!%40%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D10665816218219064%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D2f2ahub8o_5
      7. ↑ https://www.durhamnc.gov/862/Recycling#!rc-cpage=224124https://www.durhamnc.gov/862/Recycling#!rc-cpage=224124
      8. ↑ https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/government/water-utilities/environmental-services-programs/zero-waste-program/for-residents#!rc-cpage=758374
      9. ↑ https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/government/water-utilities/environmental-services-programs/zero-waste-program/for-residents#!rc-cpage=758374
      1. ↑ https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/government/water-utilities/environmental-services-programs/zero-waste-program/for-residents#!rc-cpage=758374
      2. ↑ https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/government/water-utilities/environmental-services-programs/zero-waste-program/for-residents#!rc-cpage=758374
      3. ↑ https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/government/water-utilities/environmental-services-programs/zero-waste-program/for-residents#!rc-cpage=758374
      4. ↑ https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/dispose-mirror-18029723.php
      5. ↑ https://sanitation.lacity.gov/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-wwd/s-lsh-wwd-s/s-lsh-wwd-s-r/s-lsh-wwd-s-r-rybb?_adf.ctrl-state=2f2ahub8o_1&_afrLoop=10665816218219064&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#!%40%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D10665816218219064%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D2f2ahub8o_5
      6. ↑ https://www.orlando.gov/Trash-Recycling/What-Goes-Where?_escaped_fragment_=rc-page%3D231724&lang_update=638713292607116689#!rc-cpage=231755

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To dispose of broken glass, start by putting on work gloves and thick-soled shoes to protect your hands and feet. Then, place the bigger pieces of glass in a large trash bag, making sure that it’s been double-bagged to prevent punctures and tears. Next, vacuum up the small pieces of glass, then blot up the glass dust with a soft piece of bread, followed by a damp paper towel. Afterwards, put the trash bag in a cardboard box, and call your waste management company to ask how you should label the box before putting it out with the rest of the trash. For more advice from our General Contracting reviewer, including how to dispose of whole glass like mirrors and tabletops, keep reading.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 336,513 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Aug 23, 2017

        "It was helpful to learn how to dispose of broken and whole glass panes and objects made of glass. I hadn't ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement