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With a lilliputian bit of intendance and patience, you lot can safely throw out erstwhile or cleaved mirrors and so that no ane is at risk of getting cut on abrupt shards of glass. E'er vesture leather gloves when you're touching a broken mirror, and wrap the pieces in sheets of newspaper earlier putting them out with the trash. If you're so inclined, there are lots of ways you can repurpose an one-time mirror to give it a 2d life and save it from the landfill—donate it, sell information technology, or utilize it to make something new. Unfortunately, most recycling facilities tin can't utilize mirrors, and so brand sure you keep yours out of the recycling bin.

  1. 1

    Put your mirror in the trash can if it's whole and will fit fully within. If the mirror isn't broken or cracked, you don't need to exercise much else to it to get it ready to throw out. If you're worried nearly the mirror breaking in transit to the waste facility, wrap it in paper-thin and duct tape the edges shut earlier throwing it out.[1]

    • You lot could as well put a notation on the front of your trash tin with paper and a piece of tape that says something like, "contains glass," so that the sanitation workers know to be actress careful.

    Warning: Don't put your mirrors out with the recycling. Unfortunately, mirrors are extremely difficult to recycle because the process is so different from that used to recycle glass. You tin e'er cheque with your local recycling facility, but most programs ask you to keep mirrors out of the recycling.[two]

  2. 2

    Tape over cracks before throwing out the mirror then glass doesn't come loose. If the mirror is cracked, the glass is at risk of more than easily falling out and hurting somebody. Put 2-3 strips of duct record or masking tape over the entire length of the crack. If there is a section where a chunk of the mirror is missing, record over that unabridged area, too.[3]

    • The tape helps agree the glass in the mirror in place. It likewise covers upwardly any sharp edges that may not be visible merely that could still cut yous.
    • If the mirror has cleaved into multiple pieces, don't try to tape it back together.

    Alarm: Ever habiliment leather gloves if you're going to be touching a cracked or broken mirror. After you've finished your task, shake off the gloves outdoors so pocket-size shards of glass don't accidentally find their way into your home.

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  3. iii

    Wrap broken pieces of mirror in newspaper so they don't cut anyone. If your mirror has broken into pieces, don't simply throw those shards into the trash—they could easily cut a sanitation worker! Catch a stack of old newspaper and put on a pair of leather gloves. Wrap the shards of glass in 3-four layers of newspaper, duct record them airtight, then put them into the trash.[4]

    • If yous don't have newspaper, y'all could besides employ an former towel or blanket, or you could use pieces of cardboard to sandwich the glass.

  4. 4

    Accept a mirror straight to a landfill to dispose of it yourself. If you're concerned about animals or people accidentally getting hurt by a broken mirror, your all-time choice may to take it directly to the waste management facility yourself. That way, y'all'll know it won't get broken in transit or come loose from its packaging and hurt somebody.[5]

    • Check the hours of operation at the waste facility earlier you lot go to drop off the mirror.

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  1. 1

    Accept the mirror exterior and lay it on a large piece of paper-thin. If your mirror is too big to fit into a trash tin, you may need to break it into smaller pieces in order to get rid of it. Exercise this task outside so y'all don't get modest pieces of drinking glass inside your dwelling house. Use a piece of paper-thin that is slightly bigger than the mirror itself.[6]

    • If the mirror is whole, you could besides bank check with your waste management regulations first to run across if your city has a bulk trash day. If so, your mirror can go out with the residual of the trash on that day—just lean it next to the trashcan.

  2. ii

    Tape the mirror off into a grid pattern with duct tape. When you break the mirror, the duct tape will hold the broken pieces together, which will make it a lot easier to fold them upwardly and package them for disposal. To make a filigree, place strips of tape both vertically and horizontally over the trunk of the mirror.[7]

    • If you lot don't accept duct tape, you could too use masking tape. Just add more strips of tape to the mirror since masking tape is ordinarily narrower than duct tape.

    Warning: Make sure you're wearing leather gloves and protective eyewear! It'due south also a expert thought to wear sturdy, closed-toed boots to protect your feet from any wayward shards of glass.

  3. 3

    Cover the mirror with cardboard and crack it into pieces with a hammer. Use a second, large piece of cardboard to ensure no pocket-size pieces of drinking glass will fly up while you're breaking the glass. Gently hit the mirror with a hammer over its entire surface.[viii]

    • Y'all should audibly hear cracking when you hit the mirror. If y'all don't, you may not be hit it quite hard enough.

  4. 4

    Package smaller sections of drinking glass in newspaper before throwing them away. Remove the top piece of cardboard and carefully fold the mirror over on itself. You may need to use a abrupt knife to cut the duct tape in places. Gear up several smaller bundles of glass and wrap them in multiple sheets of newspaper before duct taping them closed and throwing them out with the trash.[9]

    • You could also sandwich smaller sections of the mirror between pieces of cardboard and secure the edges with duct record so the glass can't autumn out. And then you lot can just put those packages into the trash.

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  1. one

    Sell an unbroken mirror online or at an antique shop. If the mirror is in skilful status, at that place's e'er a chance that y'all could become some money back on your initial investment. Clean the mirror, lean it confronting a blank wall, and accept a photo of it to mail online. You could likewise take that photograph to local antique shops to see if anyone is interested in buying it.[10]

    • Check out the pricing on other mirrors that are for sale and price yours somewhere in the low to middle range if you lot desire to sell it rapidly.
    • Parcel your mirror in a blanket or towel before transporting it anywhere to assist keep information technology from breaking.

  2. two

    Donate the mirror to a second-manus store to aid others. Phone call your local thrift stores to see if they have mirrors as donations, every bit some may non accept a need for them. Once yous find a place that volition accept your donation, wrap the mirror in a blanket and drop information technology off.[eleven]

    • The blanket will keep the mirror rubber while information technology's in transit.
    • Take a couple of minutes to clean the mirror before donating information technology.

  3. 3

    Frame your mirror and use it equally a decorative piece in your habitation. Measure out the length and width of the mirror and so store for a absurd frame. Hang it in a hallway, on the back of a door, to a higher place the dining room table, or on a wall in your living room. Think of it as a piece of art rather than as merely a mirror.[12]

    • You tin purchase new frames online or from the store, simply you may also exist able to notice a cool frame at an antiquarian or austerity store.

  4. 4

    Use chalkboard pigment to plow the mirror into a fun message board. Clean the mirror with rubbing booze and prime it with either spray or pigment primer made especially for drinking glass. Employ 2 coats of chalkboard paint, permit information technology cure for 3-4 days, and and so hang it upwardly somewhere special.[13]

    • This craft looks particularly overnice in a framed mirror.
    • You could use your new message lath to write quotes, notes, lists, meal plans, or anything else you lot can think of.

  5. v

    Transform a cleaved mirror into a fun craft project. At that place are a lot of fun things you can make with the pieces of a broken mirror, only exist certain to always clothing protective leather gloves and apply caution so you lot don't cut yourself. If you're a child, ask an developed to help y'all with the craft. Though this list isn't extensive, consider the following projects:[14]

    • Create a mirror mosaic on a argue with large shards of mirror and super glue.
    • Make a reflective gazing ball for a garden with small-scale pieces of mirror, a bowling ball, and super glue.
    • Pattern a stunning side table with artfully arranged pieces of broken mirror, an old tabular array, and resin.

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  • If your mirror isn't broken and is still in practiced condition, consider repurposing information technology instead of throwing it away.[15]

  • Some people believe in bad luck that can come from breaking a mirror. If you're superstitious, accept care to wrap the mirror in thick sheets of newspaper earlier throwing it out.

  • If the broken mirror is within a frame, salvage the frame to reuse with some other projection.

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  • Don't put your mirror out with the recycling, equally information technology can't be processed forth with other types of glass.[16]

  • Never handle cleaved pieces of a mirror with your bare hands. Wear leather gloves to protect your skin.[17]

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Things You'll Need

  • Leather gloves
  • Cardboard
  • Paper
  • Masking tape
  • Duct tape
  • Newspaper
  • Leather gloves
  • Protective eyewear
  • Hammer
  • Paper-thin
  • Masking tape
  • Duct tape
  • Paper
  • Abrupt knifes

References

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