Broken glass doesn't go in the recycling bin
It's a common mistake: broken glass shouldn't go in your glass recycling bin. Bottle-and-jar recycling is sorted by hand and machine, and loose broken glass is a serious hazard to workers — plus window glass, mirrors, Pyrex and drinking glasses are a different type of glass that can't be recycled with bottles anyway. Broken glass is handled as general waste, wrapped safely.
How to wrap broken glass safely
Whether it's going in your general bin or being collected, wrap it so no one gets cut:
- Wear thick gloves and pick up large pieces first
- Wrap the glass in several layers of newspaper or thick cardboard
- Tape it up and place it in a rigid box, not a thin bin bag
- Label the box: BROKEN GLASS
- Use a damp cloth or bread to pick up tiny shards, then bin the cloth
Mirrors, Pyrex and window glass
Mirrors, Pyrex, ceramics and window panes are all non-recyclable glass types — they go in general waste, wrapped, not the bottle bank. Larger sheets (an old window or a big mirror) are best taken to a recycling centre or collected, since they're awkward and dangerous to break down at home.
Clearing a broken window or a house full of odds and ends?
We take broken glass, mirrors and general clutter from your door across Glasgow, safely and same-day. Send a photo for a fixed price.
