How to Recycle Broken Glass

Broken glass can make attractive jewelry or artwork.

City recycling programs will accept many forms of glass for recycling. Clear glass food containers, green glass, and brown glass bottles are especially valuable for recycling. However, some community recycling centers will not accept broken glass, even of a valuable type, because the sharp edges can damage the recycling tools in the plant. These communities encourage residents to dispose of broken glass in the trash, but there are ways you can recycle the shards at home.

Things You'll Need

• Protective gloves
• Rock tumbler
• Water
• Dish soap
• Super glue
• Wood base (plywood or table)

Instructions

1. Contact your community recycling center to find out their policy on broken glass. While most recycling centers do not accept it, your community might be an exception. If they do accept it, sort the broken glass separately from the regular glass. Put it in a clearly marked container, and take it to the center yourself.

2. Put on protective gloves so you do not cut yourself while handling the glass. Lower the glass shards into a rock tumbler. A rock tumbler is a small machine with a canister attached to a motor. The motor turns the canister containing the rock or glass until the edges are smooth. Pour in enough water to cover the glass, and add one drop of dish soap.

3. Tumble the glass pieces for 30 minutes. The rock tumbler will remove the sharp edges of the glass, leaving you with smooth-edged glass pieces.

4. Use the smooth glass pieces to create broken glass art. Using super glue, glue the pieces to the outside of a vase or plant pot to make a decorative garden item. Alternatively, glue them to a wood base, such as a small table, to make a mosaic. A piece of plywood can serve as a mosaic base for displaying on shelves or as a wall hanging.

5. Glue the pieces of smooth glass to a plain pendant or drop earring set to make a reflective and unique jewelry set.

References

• Montgomery County, MD: How to Recycle/Dispose of Glass Bottles and Jars
• Glass Fusing Made Easy: Broken Glass Art
• Dad's Rock Shop: Rock Tumbler FAQ, Question 21