How to Dispose of Mirrors

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 17, 2020 References

With a little bit of care and patience, you can safely throw out old or broken mirrors so that no one is at risk of getting cut on sharp shards of glass. Always wear leather gloves when you’re touching a broken mirror, and wrap the pieces in sheets of newspaper before putting them out with the trash. If you’re so inclined, there are lots of ways you can repurpose an old mirror to give it a second life and save it from the landfill—donate it, sell it, or use it to make something new. Unfortunately, most recycling facilities can’t use mirrors, so make sure you keep yours out of the recycling bin.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Throwing out an Old or Broken Mirror

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Put your mirror in the trash can if it’s whole and will fit fully inside. If the mirror isn’t broken or cracked, you don’t need to do much else to it to get it ready to throw out. If you’re worried about the mirror breaking in transit to the waste facility, wrap it in cardboard and duct tape the edges shut before throwing it out.^{[1]
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- You could also put a note on the front of your trash can with paper and a piece of tape that says something like, “contains glass,” so that the sanitation workers know to be extra careful.
Warning: Don’t put your mirrors out with the recycling. Unfortunately, mirrors are extremely hard to recycle because the process is so different from that used to recycle glass. You can always check with your local recycling facility, but most programs ask you to keep mirrors out of the recycling.^{[2]
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Tape over cracks before throwing out the mirror so glass doesn’t come loose. If the mirror is cracked, the glass is at risk of more easily falling out and hurting somebody. Put 2-3 strips of duct tape or masking tape over the entire length of the crack. If there is a section where a chunk of the mirror is missing, tape over that entire area, too.^{[3]
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- The tape helps hold the glass in the mirror in place. It also covers up any sharp edges that may not be visible but that could still cut you.
- If the mirror has broken into multiple pieces, don’t try to tape it back together.
Warning: Always wear 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 small shards of glass don’t accidentally find their way into your home.

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3
Wrap broken pieces of mirror in newspaper so they don’t cut anyone. If your mirror has broken into pieces, don’t just throw those shards into the trash—they could easily cut a sanitation worker! Grab a stack of old newspaper and put on a pair of leather gloves. Wrap the shards of glass in 3-4 layers of newspaper, duct tape them closed, then put them into the trash.^{[4]
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- If you don’t have newspaper, you could also use an old towel or blanket, or you could use pieces of cardboard to sandwich the glass.
4
Take a mirror directly to a landfill to dispose of it yourself. If you’re concerned about animals or people accidentally getting hurt by a broken mirror, your best choice may to take it directly to the waste management facility yourself. That way, you’ll know it won’t get broken in transit or come loose from its packaging and hurt somebody.^{[5]
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- Check the hours of operation at the waste facility before you go to drop off the mirror.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Breaking Down a Large Mirror

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Take the mirror outside and lay it on a large piece of cardboard. If your mirror is too big to fit into a trash can, you may need to break it into smaller pieces in order to get rid of it. Do this task outside so you don’t get small pieces of glass inside your home. Use a piece of cardboard that is slightly bigger than the mirror itself.^{[6]
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- If the mirror is whole, you could also check with your waste management regulations first to see if your city has a bulk trash day. If so, your mirror can go out with the rest of the trash on that day—just lean it next to the trashcan.
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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 up and package them for disposal. To make a grid, place strips of tape both vertically and horizontally over the body of the mirror.^{[7]
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- If you don’t have duct tape, you could also use masking tape. Just add more strips of tape to the mirror since masking tape is normally narrower than duct tape.
Warning: Make sure you’re wearing leather gloves and protective eyewear! It’s also a good idea to wear sturdy, closed-toed boots to protect your feet from any wayward shards of glass.
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Cover the mirror with cardboard and crack it into pieces with a hammer. Use a second, large piece of cardboard to ensure no small pieces of glass will fly up while you’re breaking the glass. Gently hit the mirror with a hammer over its entire surface.^{[8]
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- You should audibly hear cracking when you hit the mirror. If you don’t, you may not be hitting it quite hard enough.
4
Package smaller sections of 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 sharp knife to cut the duct tape in places. Prepare 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]
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- You could also sandwich smaller sections of the mirror between pieces of cardboard and secure the edges with duct tape so the glass can’t fall out. Then you can just put those packages into the trash.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Repurposing Mirrors

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Sell an unbroken mirror online or at an antique shop. If the mirror is in good condition, there’s always a chance that you could get some money back on your initial investment. Clean the mirror, lean it against a blank wall, and take a photo of it to post online. You could also take that photo to local antique shops to see if anyone is interested in buying it.^{[10]
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- Check out the pricing on other mirrors that are for sale and price yours somewhere in the low to middle range if you want to sell it quickly.
- Package your mirror in a blanket or towel before transporting it anywhere to help keep it from breaking.
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Donate the mirror to a second-hand shop to help others. Call your local thrift stores to see if they accept mirrors as donations, as some may not have a need for them. Once you find a place that will accept your donation, wrap the mirror in a blanket and drop it off.^{[11]
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- The blanket will keep the mirror safe while it’s in transit.
- Take a couple of minutes to clean the mirror before donating it.
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Frame your mirror and use it as a decorative piece in your home. Measure the length and width of the mirror and then shop for a cool frame. Hang it in a hallway, on the back of a door, above the dining room table, or on a wall in your living room. Think of it as a piece of art rather than as just a mirror.^{[12]
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- You can buy new frames online or from the store, but you may also be able to find a cool frame at an antique or thrift store.
4
Use chalkboard paint to turn the mirror into a fun message board. Clean the mirror with rubbing alcohol and prime it with either spray or paint primer made especially for glass. Apply 2 coats of chalkboard paint, let it cure for 3-4 days, and then hang it up somewhere special.^{[13]
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- This craft looks especially nice in a framed mirror.
- You could use your new message board to write quotes, notes, lists, meal plans, or anything else you can think of.
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Transform a broken mirror into a fun craft project. There are a lot of fun things you can make with the pieces of a broken mirror, but be sure to always wear protective leather gloves and use caution so you don’t cut yourself. If you’re a kid, ask an adult to help you with the craft. Though this list isn’t extensive, consider the following projects:^{[14]
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- Create a mirror mosaic on a fence with large shards of mirror and super glue.
- Make a reflective gazing ball for a garden with small pieces of mirror, a bowling ball, and super glue.
- Design a stunning side table with artfully arranged pieces of broken mirror, an old table, and resin.

Warnings

Don’t put your mirror out with the recycling, as it can’t be processed along with other types of glass.^{[16]
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Never handle broken pieces of a mirror with your bare hands. Wear leather gloves to protect your skin.^{[17]
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