Why Glass Other Than a Bottle or Jar Can’t Be Recycled
Do you have an old plate or used light bulb that you are trying to get rid of? Unfortunately, the short answer is that glass items other than jars or bottles are not easy to recycle. In fact, it is often better to throw them in the trash than in the trash can, where it will damage other recyclables.
What makes them difficult to recycle? This is because these products are often made from a different type of glass that melts at different temperatures, according to Tory Karl, a waste reduction inspector in Greensboro, North Carolina. For example, glassware is often made from some type of glass that can withstand high temperatures. This complicates the process of melting glass products in processing plants. When a new bottle is made of different types of glass, she said, it can break when cooled.
Other products, such as window panes, are also coated with substances to make them more durable, further complicating the recycling problem (unknown chemicals mixed with recyclable materials are usually not a good idea).
There are a few exceptions to this rule, depending on the glass product. Here are the rules for the disposal and disposal of other glass products. When in doubt, be sure to check the rules of your own curbside recycling program. In the end, recycling depends on how your local program works.
Glassware can contaminate recyclable materials
Are there Pyrex glassware nearby? If you plan on getting rid of it, it’s best to throw it in the trash can. Because it is made from heat-resistant glass, Pyrex contaminates other recyclable materials when it is thrown into the trash can. Instead, try reusing it for other uses, like potted plants, or even selling it online.
Old bulbs must be returned to the pick-up point.
While light bulbs can generally be recycled, Karl said it is often impossible to do so with a conventional curb recycling program, as many of the lamps contain hazardous chemicals. They can usually be dropped off at drop-off points or at some hardware stores.
If you have a compact fluorescent lamp (or CFL) that contains small amounts of mercury, your best bet is to find a local hardware store like Lowes that has trash cans on the street. You can also use the search by the recycling Earth911, to find the nearest object, which will collect your CFLs. The EPA website also has a list of feedback programs where you can send your CFLs for recycling (you may have to pay a small fee to do this).
If you have an incandescent, halogen, or LED light bulb (which usually does not contain hazardous chemicals), these are also best recycled at your local hardware store. Alternatively, they can be thrown in the trash and sealed in a plastic bag, as long as they are not thrown away in your regular glass bin.
If you break a light bulb, it’s especially important to seal it in a plastic bag and throw it in the trash, rather than trying to recycle – when broken into shards, it generally has no recyclable value for businesses (and the bag protects factory workers from damage. ).
If you break a CFL or CFL, you will need to take extra precautions due to the potential for chemical leaks. For this reason, you should consult theEPA website for proper disposal, which involves scooping up the shards with cardboard or stiff paper so that you do not come into direct contact with them. You must then seal it tightly into your existing container (and unfortunately, yes, you will have to throw it in the trash where it ends up in a landfill).
Ceramics cannot be recycled due to their mixed material.
According to Karl, ceramics are composed of a number of materials (such as clay) in addition to glass, which causes a contamination problem if the ceramic and glass items melt together. Ceramics are also capable of withstanding heat, so melting them along with other recyclables is a bad idea. It is best to donate or sell them.
Glass window panes are difficult to recycle
Glass window panes are , for the most part, the most difficult to recycle due to added chemicals to make them laminated, tinted, or tempered. They are also often attached to metal and wood frames, making disassembly another problem for recycling businesses – which is why your curbside program will not accept them. You should consult with Earth911 Tracker for the nearest drop-off location or Habitat for Humanity stores that accept old building materials for reuse.
Mirrors are also generally not recyclable as part of your sidewalk program as they come in contact with the reflective coating. However, you can find a glass reception service nearby using the Earth911 tracker that will accept treated glass like mirrors for recycling.
Throw the glasses in the trash
Thinking of getting rid of your old wine glasses? Plus, they’re best for the environment if you throw them in the trash instead of in the trash can. Most glasses are treated with chemicals so that they can withstand both high and low temperatures. You can consult your local roadside recycling program and ask if they accept your glass; when all else fails, donating is the greenest effort you can make.