No, broken glasses don’t belong in the glass bin: they’re not recyclable like other glass items — here’s what to do instead
It’s easy to assume that broken drinking glasses, since they’re made of glass, should go in the glass recycling bin. But that’s not always the case! In fact, broken glassware needs to be disposed of differently. So be careful — and not just about avoiding cuts from those sharp edges: your recycling habits need just as much care and attention.
Here’s how to properly dispose of broken drinking glasses.
Where Should You Throw Away Glasses?
- Where to throw away a broken glass
- Why glassware doesn’t go in the glass bin
- What can go in the glass recycling bin
Where to Throw Away a Broken Glass
The only glass that can be recycled is the kind marked with the code “VE” or labeled with the recycling triangle symbol showing the numbers 70, 71, or 72. Anything else is considered non-recyclable glass. That includes typical kitchen drinking glasses, which are usually made from glass mixed with other non-recyclable materials.
So whether your glass is broken or still intact, it needs to go into the general waste bin for non-recyclables — and be extra careful to avoid injury when handling it.
Why Glassware Doesn’t Belong in the Glass Bin
As mentioned earlier, most drinking glasses may not be made of recyclable glass. To be safe, they should go into the general waste bin. And it’s not just drinking glasses — other items that don’t belong in the glass bin include window glass, porcelain dishes, and lightbulbs. All of these need to be thrown out with the general waste.
What Can Go in the Glass Recycling Bin
Depending on your local rules (in some areas glass is collected with metal or plastic), the following items can be thrown into the glass bin: glass jars, bottles, and flasks — but not medicine bottles.
Glasses? No — drinking glasses don’t go in the glass bin. Now you know why.