How To Remove Broken Glass from Public Parks

Some parks can have layer upon layer of glass. Don’t believe me, read this article. To rid an open space of broken, you’ll need to know whether the glass is embedded in soil, mulch, or sand or spread out over asphalt or concrete. In neighborhoods you’ll find that most glass needs to be removed from sidewalks. In this case, I recommend picking up the shards by hand, then using a cordless handheld vac for the remaining glass.

Though not unique to Newark, most broken glass in Newark parks is embedded in soil and mulch, and occasionally in sandpits. I don’t have a lot of experience with sand, but I plan to start adding a gravel/sand strainer to my list of preferred methods.

Materials:

• Nitrile Latex gloves, which provide some protection without hindering your dexterity.
  

• Butter Knife or kitchen spoon. A nearby stick will do the trick too.
  

• Mini hula hoe or paint scrapper. Often I’m ill-equipped and so use my inner shoe or hand.
  

• Dust pan and small hand broom.

• Large coffee can. Most construction-grade bags hold up to glass, but coffee can ensures that the glass won’t puncture the bag. Paint bucket works too.
  

To remove the glass:

Start by choosing a sunny day. The sun reflects off glass, exposing the medium to large shards of glass, and often the small pieces too.

Step 1. Put on your gloves.

Step 2. Bend down to get as close to the ground as possible. If the glass is dense, consider using a low profile chair to sit in while you remove glass.

Step 3. Without disturbing the surface, remove what glass you see on top of the first layer, using the butter knife to gently pry loose the pieces recessed into the ground. Continue until you don’t see any glass on the surface.

Step 4. Walk around to catch the glimmer of light bouncing off the shards from different angles. Sometimes you’ll need to pass over a section multiples times before you get all the surface glass.

Step 5. With hoe/scrapper (or using one hand fully extended and fingertips slightly cupped), run your tool of choice over the surface of the ground gently raking the dirt toward you, disturbing the first layer of dirt/mulch. Listen for the sounds of clanking glass. Using your index fingers, pick up each shard, one at a time (yes, it’s tedious!). Continue until you don’t find anymore glass. This phases is the longest.

Warning: If you see a large pile of small shards, use a dust pan and small broom to pick up the glass and surrounding mulch. Do not use your hands.

Step 6. Using the hoe or paint scrapper, slowly disturb the next layer. Your eyesight is key at this stage. Continue at this layer until you don’t see anymore glass.

Step 7. Redistribute the mulch as necessary to return the area to its original state, then transfer the glass from the coffee can to a bag, tie the bag, and dispose of it in the park’s nearest trash receptacle.

That’s it! Congratulations! Now that you’re undisturbed by litter, sit back and enjoy the clean open space, taking in the beauty around you.

Angela

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