Broken windows can be caused by a number of different external factors including accidents, age-related deterioration of window frames that put pressure on the glass itself, bad weather conditions such as hail and ice, as well as intruders.
Unfortunately, many people do not know how to correctly dispose of broken window glass, which could lead to themselves or someone else being injured. Window glass breaks differently to other types of glass and, therefore, should not be treated in the same way.
Keep reading to discover how you can effectively and safely dispose of broken glass, so that if the worst does happen and one of your windows is shattered, then you will know exactly what to do.
Do not throw the glass directly in the bin
Window glass nearly always breaks into large and pointy pieces that can easily slice through a rubbish bag and directly into your skin. Therefore, you should never put these pieces of glass directly into your bin.
Instead, you need to crush the glass into very small pieces. The easiest and safest way to do this is by:
- Wrapping each piece of glass in a towel or heavy duty cloth
- Taking a hammer and gently break the glass into smaller chunks
- You should always ensure that you wear safety googles when doing this to protect your eyes
- Carefully pouring the crushed glass into a small box such as a shoebox, tape shut and then label it “Caution – Broken Glass”
- Store in a safe place away from children
- Put into your outside bin the night before your bin collection day
Do not try to wrap the glass in newspaper and then dispose of it. The window glass will cut through paper in the same way as it would a standard plastic rubbish bag.
Do not try and recycle broken window glass
You may think that broken window glass can just be thrown in your outdoor recycling bin in the same way that other broken glass can.
However, window glass is completely different to standard glass and requires different temperatures to melt and be recycled.
Throwing broken window glass in with your recycling is extremely dangerous and could jeopardise the entire contents of the bin, resulting in none of the other thrown-away items being recycled.
Consider other salvaging processes
If you are keen to find a new use for your broken window glass, you could try ringing around or advertising for some local artists who may have a use for your glass.
Alternatively, you may be able to find a company who is willing to accept broken window glass and use it to make asphalt or other building materials.
Now that you have disposed of your broken window glass effectively and safely, you should next look to replacing your window.
Double glazing is your most cost effective and durable solution, or if you are wanting even more insulation then triple glazing may be the right choice for you.
Get a quote today from us by requesting a call back here or calling us on 03455 280241