It is not obvious to know where to throw away ceramics, a material that is an integral part of our lives. Usually at home we have dishes and vases that are made with ceramics, but also objects and tiles. The problem is that this composite material raises many doubts about the correct disposal, which cannot take place in the classic recycling bins.
It is not easy to answer the question “where is ceramic thrown away“, because the material is a much more complex composite than one might expect. There is no doubt that clay and water are the basis, but they are not the only ingredients in this recipe. In fact, there are also sand, feldspars and quartz, without considering the finishes.
In fact, ceramic is often colored and treated with coatings that make it resistant to attacks by acids or external agents, such as sun or rain. Ceramic cups and plates contain food and need regular washing, while home tiles are exposed to foot traffic and dirt.
In both cases, ceramics come into contact with humidity, heat and aggressive detergents: if there were no covers to protect them, they would quickly deteriorate. But all these additions to the basic recipe of water and clay do nothing but make ceramics difficult to place in the classic recycling bins.
If there are broken dishes or tiles to throw away, which we cannot recycle in any other way, we will have to stop for a moment to understand where to dispose of this waste. Below we will see how to dispose of ceramics without errors.
What is ceramic made of?
The first thing to understand, after having mentioned the composition of ceramicsis to see in detail what it is made of and where it is located. It is usually made from mixtures of clays, silica-based sand, oxides and water, but paints and enamels are often added to these. This is done for aesthetic reasons, but also for protection.
Ceramics are used to make house tiles, bathroom fixtures such as sinks and bathtubs, some components of watches, as well as cars. But ceramics are also used to make parts of household appliances, as well as some models of cell phones with a body resistant to scratches and impacts.
Where to throw away broken ceramics
In Japan, the practice has been in force for centuries. Kintsugithe so-called art of repairing with gold: the broken ceramic is not thrown away but reassembled and made precious by a special lacquer mixed with the noble material. The result is that the old is not thrown away, but acquires a new essence. And the golden veins, spread along the break lines are beautiful.
All this to say that ceramics can be recycled, before thinking of throwing them away, maybe not in the Japanese way, but in other simpler and more intuitive ways. In fact, the classic and traditional one is to use the broken ceramic tiles to make mosaics and thus avoid throwing away a good material for DIY.
But if the broken ceramics do not find a place in domestic activities, the unsorted waste bin is the one to choose for correct disposal. Many people think that it can be throw this material away with glass, but this is a serious mistake, as even small ceramic fragments could alter the glass melting process in the ovens.
In fact, ceramic chips are a serious problem for industrial machinery that deals with glass recycling and there is a risk of ruining them. The fact that the melting point of glass is higher does not mean anything. Even if ceramic melted homogeneously, the materials it is made of could be unmanageable.
If, therefore, we do not find original and creative methods to recycle ceramics or repair them, it is important to throw them away with the dry residue. Alternatively, we can give them to the staff of the ecological islands that we find in our municipality of residence. The workers will take care of its proper disposal.
Sources
Source: www.greenstyle.it
