---
title: "Where do Broken glass go? General waste bin"
description: "Wrap it thickly and put it in general waste, unless it is a broken bottle or jar — those can go in the glass bin. Why that route, what goes wrong on the wrong one, a"
url: https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/broken-glass/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Where do Broken glass go?

**Where do Broken glass go?: Wrap it thickly and put it in general waste, unless it is a broken bottle or jar — those can go in the glass bin.**

General waste bin

The material decides the route: a smashed jam jar is still container glass and can go in the bottle bank, while a smashed tumbler, mirror or window is not and cannot. Everything else is about the person who empties the bin — loose shards go through a bag and into a hand, so wrap the pieces in several sheets of newspaper or a cereal box, tape it shut and mark it. Sweep up with stiff card rather than a cloth, and pick up the invisible slivers by pressing damp kitchen paper or bread over the area.

## How to prepare it

1. Sweep with stiff card, not a cloth or a bare hand.
2. Wrap in newspaper or a taped-up box and write "broken glass" on it.
3. Press damp kitchen paper over the floor to lift the splinters you cannot see.

## What not to do

- Never drop loose glass into a bin bag — it cuts through the bag and injures whoever lifts it.
- Never vacuum large shards; they damage the machine and the fine dust is not caught.

> Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.

## Other things that go to general waste bin

- [Used cooking oil](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/cooking-oil/) — Let it cool, seal it in a container, and put it in general waste — or take it to an oil bank.
- [Polystyrene and foam packaging](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/polystyrene/) — General waste almost everywhere. It is recyclable in principle and collected almost nowhere.
- [Incandescent and halogen bulbs](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/incandescent-bulbs/) — General waste, wrapped. They are not recyclable glass and not electrical waste either.
- [Crisp packets and snack wrappers](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/crisp-packets/) — General waste, or a supermarket soft-plastics bin where one exists. Not the kerbside recycling.
- [Dried-out paint and empty tins](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/paint-dried/) — Once the paint is solid, many councils take the tin in general waste or as scrap metal. Check yours, because this one genuinely varies.
- [Cling film](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/cling-film/) — General waste. It is excluded even from soft plastic collections almost everywhere.
- [Till receipts](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/receipts/) — General waste. Thermal paper is coated, not printed, and it should not go in with paper or compost.
- [Wet wipes and makeup wipes](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/wet-wipes/) — General waste. Never the toilet, whatever the packet says about flushability.
- [Dog waste](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/pet-waste/) — Bagged in general waste, or a dog waste bin. Not the food waste caddy, and not the compost heap.
- [Nappies](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/nappies/) — General waste, bagged. There is no kerbside recycling route for them anywhere in ordinary use.
- [Cat litter](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/cat-litter/) — General waste, bagged. Clay litter is not compostable, and cat faeces carry a parasite that keeps it out of the garden.
- [Medicine blister packs](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/blister-packs/) — General waste in most places, or a pharmacy collection scheme where one exists.
- [Greetings cards with glitter or foil](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/glitter-cards/) — Tear off the plain card and recycle that; the glittery part goes in general waste.
- [Cigarette butts](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/cigarette-butts/) — Put it out completely, then bin it. Filters are cellulose acetate plastic, and a live butt starts bin fires.

## Common questions

### Where do Broken glass go?

Wrap it thickly and put it in general waste, unless it is a broken bottle or jar — those can go in the glass bin.

### What happens if you put Broken glass in the wrong bin?

Never drop loose glass into a bin bag — it cuts through the bag and injures whoever lifts it. Never vacuum large shards; they damage the machine and the fine dust is not caught.

## Related pages

- [Where do Used cooking oil go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/cooking-oil/)
- [Where do Polystyrene and foam packaging go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/polystyrene/)
- [Where do Incandescent and halogen bulbs go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/incandescent-bulbs/)
- [Where do Crisp packets and snack wrappers go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/crisp-packets/)
- [Where do Dried-out paint and empty tins go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/paint-dried/)
- [Where do Cling film go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/cling-film/)
- [Where do Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/batteries/)
- [Where do Lithium-ion batteries go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/lithium-batteries/)
- [Where do Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/vapes/)
- [Where do Medicines and tablets go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/medicines/)
- [Where do Pizza boxes go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/pizza-boxes/)
- [Where do Leftover wet paint go?](https://atoneplace.net/where-does-it-go/paint-wet/)

## Sources

- US Environmental Protection Agency — EPA (https://www.epa.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]