Disposing of a mirror is not as difficult as it may seem at first. Do not worry! Here are a few tips on how to dispose of a mirror easily!
Mirrors are used in a wide variety of ways, both in everyday life and in different spheres. For example, mirrors are often used to decorate a room or set off an elegant look.
They can also be used to improve our appearance and make us more attractive.
According to OEC, the top importers of Glass mirrors, unframed were the United States ($127M) in 2020. With this huge number, there are many people who want to dispose of it.
Mirrors are useful but they can be dangerous. If you’re not using them, you have to dispose of them properly.
Contents
Preparation to dispose of a mirror
1. Put on gloves and wear safety goggles
When you’re ready to dispose of a mirror, you’ll want to take extra precautions. It’s best to be diligent about protecting yourself.
It’s important to wear protective gear so as not to cut or damage your hands since the glass will be shattered.
While a regular pair of safety goggles will work for small chips or cracks, a full-face shield is better for dealing with larger pieces that could fly off.
You’ll also need thick gloves for holding the larger pieces and taping them down in the box.
2. Check the regulation
Before disposing of a mirror, check the state or municipal laws on disposal. Many of them do not allow mirrors to be tossed into the trash or recycled.
If you live in an apartment or condo and there is a mirror in common areas, it is property owned by the building’s management.
If you want to dispose of it, management needs to be contacted about your intentions for removal. As the mirror is part of the building, its disposal is the building management’s responsibility.
If the mirror belongs to you or your family and there is no specific regulation regarding their disposal, check with management or even contact your city’s recycling center for information on proper disposal methods.
How to dispose of a mirror
1. Contact the local recycling center
If you don’t have a use for your mirror anymore, it’s better to recycle it than throw it away.
Mirrors are made from glass and can be recycled at most of your local recycling centers.
Not only does recycling allow you to make good use of the material that went into creating the mirror in the first place, but recycled glass can be used in a variety of ways.
Your local recycling center will take almost anything, including broken mirror glass.
Some recycling centers will even pay you for mirrors you’ve got lying around.
The recycling center will also be happy to accept your other material such as a treadmill or fiberglass boat!
2. Give it away or donate it
Another tip to dispose of a mirror is by giving or donating it for someone else to use.
When you donate something, you give it to someone who can use it without any money changing hands.
Unlike other appliances, a mirror is a special kind of object that can easily be transferred from one person to another without any major alterations. This makes mirrors perfect for giving to people in need.
There are plenty of places that will be glad to take it off your hands.
You can also drop the mirror off at a charity or donation center yourself.
A lot of charities will take donations of household items (including mirrors) and even offer pick-up services if you’re unable to transport your items.
Before you give away your mirror, make sure it’s clean and in good condition.
A local secondhand store or charity will almost always be happy to accept your old mirrors. They will gladly accept the mirror and use it.
3. Contact the manufacturer
It’s best to bring back a mirror to its manufacturer if you want to dispose of it. Manufacturers have specific processes in place for disposing of mirrors.
Contact the manufacturer and see if they have an official policy for disposing of the mirror.
If you can’t find a phone number, try searching for their website on Google and see if there’s an email address or a form to fill out.
On the manufacturer’s website, you may be able to find information about recycling the mirror or about how to dispose of it safely.
Some manufacturers will come to pick up mirrors for free, and others may charge a fee for recycling.
4. Sell it
A fine option to dispose of a mirror is by selling it.
You can either sell it to your neighbor or friends.
Also, selling mirrors online can be very beneficial if you need to get rid of one quickly.
You can put an ad on the local Facebook group.
If you choose to sell it, you should set a price that is fair and reasonable.
5. Call the local environmental officer
When you’re ready to get rid of a mirror, \call your local environmental officer.
The officer will visit your home with the proper equipment and help you schedule a pick-up service for the mirror that is provided by your local government at no cost to you.
The truck used for this service is equipped with bulletproof glass so that it can withstand any threats during pickup.
What you should not do to dispose of a mirror
1. Do not throw it away with your regular garbage
A mirror should not be treated as regular garbage. It goes to a different place because mirrors are made of glass, and glass is dangerous.
When mirrors are thrown in regular garbage cans, they can break and shatter into hundreds of tiny pieces.
The lead breaks loose and contaminates all the trash around it, including other glass products.
2. Don’t put them in a landfill
Throwing a mirror into the dumpster is so wasteful.
Mirrors are made up of a number of different toxic materials that can be dangerous to the environment.
The problem with mirrors is that they can shatter when disposed of improperly.
This can be dangerous for local wildlife, particularly children, who may be drawn to flashy objects in the woods.
Remember, the mirror can shatter into very sharp fragments, posing a danger of injury or even death if not handled properly.
Conclusion
Disposing of a mirror is easier than you think.
While some homeowners have fallen in love with the previous mirror designs, other people might find it useful to remove them from their homes due to the age of the mirrors.
Let me summarize how to dispose of a mirror!
- Contact the local recycling center
- Give or donate it
- Contact the manufacturer
- Sell it
- Call the local environmental officer
If you have a problem to dispose of home furniture, read my tips to get rid of old office chairs!
