Where do I dispose of an old silicone mould

A fully cured silicone mould belongs in general or residual waste. For households that is the residual waste bin, for businesses it is commercial residual waste collected by your own waste contractor.

Never put a mould in the separate collection for plastic packaging. Silicone does not melt and, as a thermoset, it disrupts both the sorting and the processing of the plastics stream, which makes an entire batch harder to recycle.

Cured silicone rubber is not hazardous waste. The material is chemically inert and not classified, the hazard symbols on the packaging refer to the uncured components. When in doubt, section 13 of the safety data sheet of the specific product is always leading.

Before you throw a mould away, check whether reuse is possible. A torn mould can often still be repaired with fresh silicone rubber of the same curing type, and a mould that is genuinely finished can be shredded and cast into a new block mould as filler material.

Never burn silicone rubber yourself in a fire pit, wood stove or garden fire, and do not work shreds into soil or compost. The material does not break down and incomplete combustion produces particulate matter.

Household collection rules differ per country and often per municipality, so check with your local waste authority.

Read more: is silicone recyclable