Glass recycling
How to Recycle Mirrors
Bathroom, wall, and decorative mirrors and mirror tiles. Excluded from glass recycling everywhere, but among the most readily reusable items in this category.
Special handlingUpdated Jul 2026
Quick answer
Intact mirrors get donated, broken ones go in the trash. There is no consumer mirror recycling: the metallic backing and paint make it unusable as cullet, and Hennepin County states flatly that mirrors cannot be recycled. Check the charity's rules first, because several accept framed mirrors only. Antique mirrors made before 1900 can contain mercury and need special handling.
- Recyclable
- Not curbside
How to Prepare
- 1Check the age first, since mirrors made before 1900 may contain mercury and need special disposal
- 2Offer intact mirrors to a thrift store or ReStore, confirming whether they take unframed glass
- 3List larger or decorative mirrors locally, where they resell easily
