Scan the phonebook for listings for local recycling centers. Websites like Recycle Nation can be another helpful resource. These sites offer users a search function designed to help them track down nearby recycling and waste disposal facilities.
Facilities that work with brick and cement can also usually recycle ceramic. [3] X Research source Not all commercial recyclers are equipped to process the same waste products. Some may take construction ceramics, for instance, but not kitchenware like bowls, plates, and mugs.
The recycler may request that your items be sorted or organized a certain way to expedite processing, so be prepared to accommodate their terms if asked.
If you’re unsure of what to do once you arrive at the recycling center, flag down an employee on site and ask them for assistance. Once the facility has received your ceramics, they’ll grind them down and turn them into aggregate material for use in paving, drainage, and insulation projects. [4] X Research source
Some thrift shops and secondhand stores will take lightly chipped or worn items, but others may not. [5] X Research source Taking a final inventory of your ceramics will also give you a chance to decide whether there’s anything among them you want to keep.
Keep like items together as much as possible so they’ll be easier to unpack and organize once you get them to their new destination. Plastic milk crates are useful for transporting fragile items, as they’re sturdier than ordinary cardboard boxes and features built-in handles for gripping.
Donating your unwanted ceramics is the next best thing to having them recycled commercially. The next person that comes along may be delighted to own a piece that you’re no longer interested in keeping.
For your own safety, be sure to pull on a pair of rugged work gloves anytime you’re handling ceramic shards with sharp edges. Coming up with creative new ways to enjoy old ceramic goods perfectly captures the idea of reuse, which is one of the central tenants of recycling.
Group ornamental ceramics together with related items to tell a story or bring a scene to life. For example, a hand-me-down baking dish could be paired with an antique rolling pin and measuring cups to capture the feeling of cooking Sunday morning breakfast with your grandmother.
Make sure you’ve ground down the pieces small enough to prevent them from cutting you when you’re working with them later on.
