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Even though ceramic is one of the oldest types of material for pottery many things are made of ceramic
Vineyards and wineries can promote their brand by using ceramic to display bottles and give them a unique quality.
In hotels and restaurants, they are used to serving food.
Ceramics can also be used to hold household items, such as utensils or bathroom necessities.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss ceramic’s recyclability and give tips to help you further reduce your waste.
Is Ceramic Recyclable?
Yes, ceramic is recyclable. However, not all types of ceramics can be recycled.
Ceramics are made from clay and other ingredients, which can be recycled.
The difficulty lies in separating the different components of these materials, especially if they’ve been glazed.
Ceramic pottery is made from fired clay, which produces a hard surface that can be glazed or unglazed.
It’s very common in homes, restaurants, and fine art.
In some cases, ceramics can be recycled into new pieces of art or furniture.
How to Recycle Broken Ceramic
If you have broken ceramic items, there are a few ways you can get rid of them:
- Use the pieces to build something else. You can use pieces of broken ceramics to create mosaics or other works of art. There are many tutorials available online for creating mosaics from recycled tiles and other materials, so check out Pinterest for some inspiration.
- Donate your broken ceramics to charity thrift shops and art organizations that accept donations of craft materials such as clay and pottery glazes. Your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore may accept ceramic pieces if they aren’t too large or heavy; call ahead to confirm their policies before bringing in your donations.
- Recycle broken ceramic dishes into new dishes by painting over them with enamel paint or another type of sealer (such as polyurethane). This will make them look brand new again!
- Finding a local store that accepts broken ceramics. You’ll probably want to call around and ask if they take broken ceramics before you show up with yours. This way, you can avoid wasting your time on trips to stores that will not accept your items. Once you’ve found a store that will accept your broken ceramics, package them in small boxes or bags and label each box according to what type of material is inside (ceramic or glass).
This helps keep everything organized so the store knows exactly what they’re receiving from you and can process it efficiently when they receive it at their facility.
Ways To Recycle Your Broken ceramic
If you have broken ceramic pieces that can’t be used as art or a bird feeder, there are still many ways to recycle them into new art pieces.
Here are six ways to recycle your broken ceramic:
Turn Your Broken Ceramic into Art
If you’re into DIY projects and artsy stuff, this one’s for you! You can turn your old ceramic pieces into new ones by using them as an alternative material for your next project.
Use Them as Garden Decorations
You’ve probably seen some pretty cool garden decorations made from old objects, such as glass bottles and other recycled materials.
Well, broken ceramic pieces can also be repurposed into garden decorations such as birdbaths or even hanging planters!
Repurpose Them as Bird Feeders
Birds are welcome guests in any home, but who wants bird droppings all over their patio furniture?
Instead of letting those pesky birds eat up your food supply, why not use your broken ceramic pieces to make bird feeders instead?
You’ll have a great way to recycle your old ceramic.
Recycle Them into New Pieces of Art
You can also use broken pieces of ceramic to create new artwork! For example, you could turn broken plates into unique wall art by gluing them together with epoxy resin and framing behind glass or using them as tiles on a mosaic tabletop or wall piece.
Use Them As A Plant Pot
Set up some succulents or other plants in your broken ceramic pieces for an easy DIY project that won’t take long! You can paint them beforehand if you want them to match the décor in your home better.
Or leave them as they are so they stand out as unique plant pots!
Make Them Into A Mosaic Tabletop or Wall Piece
If you have broken pieces of tile around your house that aren’t too small, you can turn them into a mosaic tabletop or wall piece by using some outdoor grout and a few other supplies (like wire mesh).
You can even use unglazed tiles as long as they have flat backsides, so they don’t stick together when exposed to water.
Frequently Asked Question
Why is ceramic breakable?
Ceramics is made up of many different compounds, which makes it more fragile than other materials.
For example, ceramics are often made from silica and other silicon minerals, making them more susceptible to cracking.
How to dispose of a broken ceramic?
Disposing of broken ceramics is simple.
You can put them in the trash or contact a local waste management site if you have one nearby.
If you live in a small community, it may be best to take advantage of your local recycling program.
Is ceramic biodegradable?
Ceramic is technically a non-biodegradable material, so it would be considered hazardous to the environment if disposed of in your garbage can or waste.
Ceramics is porous, which means it can absorb liquids and hold them.
This can cause staining and other issues if you put it in there with regular household garbage.
Conclusion
Ceramics is one of the most accessible materials to recycle, and that’s why we’ve put together this ultimate guide on reclaiming broken ceramics.
To sum it all up: carefully pour or siphon the liquid contents out of any ceramic jars, pitchers, bowls, or cups.
You can use a moist towel to clean out the thick chunks left over in the bottom of any broken bowl.
Banish the mess by putting it in your curbside recycling cart (if you have one) or in a designated recycling bin at your neighborhood thrift store.
