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How to Deal with Mirrors, Window Glass, Drinking Glasses and Tempered Glass - Disposal

How to Deal with Mirrors, Window Glass, Drinking Glasses and Tempered Glass - Disposal

Drinking glasses, window glass, mirrors, light bulbs and broken glass unfortunately cannot be recycled. Neither can window panes, tempered glass like pyrex or corning ware.

Wrap any broken glass and light bulbs and put them into your rubbish bin. Broken glass in household recycling bins is dangerous for service handlers and workers.

If your mirrors, window glass, pyrex or drinking glasses are still in good condition, you can take them to your local charity shop or secondhand construction shop or the Transfer Station at your council rubbish tip.

The only glass containers you can recycle are jars and bottles, including beer, water, juice, cordial and wine bottles.  Clear, brown or green bottles are all fine to recycle.




Image: Unsplash | James Lindsay
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Science Notes
Mirrors, drinking glasses, light bulbs, glass cookware and windows are not pure glass. They are chemically treated to either toughen or reflect and can't be recycled with glass.

Just a few grams of the wrong glass mixed with a tonne of recycled glass can weaken it so make sure you only put bottles and jars in your recycle bin.

Related Tip
Pure glass can be recycled infinite times without losing purity, quality or strength. On the other hand, glass does not break down so it is extremely important that you don’t put anything recyclable into your rubbish bin and allow it to end up in land fill.
 
Glass medicine bottles may be recyclable, but their contents aren't. Local pharmacies will accept the return of unused or out of date drugs for suitable disposal. Bottles, cosmetic jars, food jars, medicine bottles can all be recycled in your council recycling bin.