What do I do with…?

Colorful Ceramic Dishes

Ceramics

Why is ceramic waste a problem? Since ceramics shatter easily, it is common to throw away chipped or broken items instead of repairing them. Furthermore, a big contributor to landfill waste is construction debris, which includes ceramic household items discarded during a remodel. Such items, including sinks, toilets, tubs, and tiles, are often still functional and could be reused instead of wasted.

Examples: Ceramic household items: toilet, sink, bathtub, etc., brick, clay, porcelain, tiles, cement, pottery, dishes

Reduce

  • Consider changing an item’s use instead of replacing it entirely

  • Only remodel the parts of your home that would improve efficiency in energy and water usage

Reuse

  • Repair chips and cracks with epoxy or oil-based pastels

  • Mosaic art and DIY home projects are a fun activities and often make for a beautiful display

  • Ceramics make for great bird baths and other gardening decor

  • Building material reuse centers such as Home ReSource & the Habitat ReStore take donations of working household ceramic items including garden pots, sinks, tiles, toilets, & tubs (check out their acceptance policy for more details)

  • Local thrift stores take donations of unwanted dishes, decorations, and outdoor pottery items.

    • Good Will

    • Secret Seconds

  • Jeannette Rankin Peace Center has a dish pantry available for anyone to borrow instead of buying new or using disposable dining ware

Recycle

  • Ceramics can be recycled and made into things such as gravel, drainage systems, and rock basins

  • It is also possible to mill ceramics back to their clay form, which then allows you to use it to make tiles for example.

    • Missoula does not currently have a power mill to make this possible

  • Instead of throwing away your unwanted ceramics, try breaking them down (with a hammer and protective gear) and distributing the fine clay bits into your mulch or yard coverings. Clay is naturally occurring in some soils and could be particularly beneficial for sandy soils.