Window Fitters Guide to Window Installation 142 ©2022 AWDI, LLC Do not reproduce without permission When windows have been replaced, there is debris. If it is a box-frame (blindstop) install or a full, frame- out, replacement there will be the old sash, frame and hardware to dispose of. The town's recycling program probably may or may not accept glass win- dows and doors, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should throw them in the trash. If the glass is still in good shape with no cracks, you can recycle them. Savvy dealers and window contractors probably have already made a few phone calls and would be willing to transport the windows them- selves, but perhaps even better is there is a chance to sell them for a small profit. Aluminum, for example, earns a reasonable price as scrap. Old wood windows can be recycled as decorative pieces in the better home furnishing outlets. Interior designers look for those type of items. Old windows and some doors can be donated to a building material reuse company, or be used them to construct greenhouses or cold frames for gardens. Glass, when it’s cracked or removed from the old window and door, is pretty much scrap. Perhaps it can be recycled, but it is not the same as bottle glass, so the local re-cycle would probably be the judge of what is worthwhile recycling and what is not. Creative industry professionals are finding other uses for old windows. The glass can be melted and reman- ufactured into Fiberglas. Ground glass can be incor- porated into “glassphalt”, a glass and asphalt blend, or stirred into the reflective yellow and white paint used on roads. Broken glass is combined with con- crete to create terrazzo flooring and counter tops. Old windows can also be reused as is. Separate Broken Glass The first step is to separate any recyclable glass from any glass that is trash. Remove any glass that has cracks, chips or holes in it from the door or window and place it in the trash. Badly pitted, soiled or stained glass that you cannot easily clean should also be disposed of. Remove glass that isn't recyclable by covering it with a thick towel and chipping it out with a hammer. Always wear safety goggles when attempting to break glass. Building Materials Reuse Association Check the Building Materials Reuse Association website to locate a nearby company or organization that accepts old windows and doors. This directory is organized by state and lists salvage companies that will buy your glass (price depends on condition). According to material published by the NAHB, contractors should be aware that it is difficult for a contractor to shift potential liability for “hazardous” waste materials generated on their job sites due to the complexity of federal environmental laws and local codes. The largest sources of residential construction materials that could be considered hazardous under state and federal statutes are waste solvents, paints and coatings, and adhesives. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include (but are not limited to): • adhesives • coatings • sealers • antifreeze Best Practices for Window and Door Disposal • caulking • shellac • asphalt • solvents • paint/lacquer • paint stripper • resins/epoxies • waterproofing agents SAMPLE MANUAL
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