According to the EPA, recyclable materials likerubber, leather, and textiles (or 19.3 million tons) of the waste thrown in American landfills in 2015. Yeah, it’s easy to toss a worn-outpiece of gear in the trash and forget about it, but its usefulness doesn’t have to end there.Consider these options instead.
Turn Tent Scraps into Backpacks
The nylon or polyestermaterial oftent bodies can easily be sewn onto other tents or camping gear to patch holes or tears. If you want to get more creative, turnitinto , , or for yourself or friends and family. If you’d rather ship the tent off to someone else to repurpose, programs like accept donationsand reinventthem as or even .
Punch Holes in Fuel Canisters
When it comes time to recycle a fuel canister, use theto release all remaining fumes from the top nozzle. Once there’s no propane left, use the same tool topuncture a small holein thecanister using the integrated wrench.This allows it to be recycled properly, as machines can’t process pressurized containers.After making the hole, write “Empty” on the canister in bold black marker to give the workers at the recycling facilities a clear indication that it’s safe. If they question that it’s empty, its safer for them to throw it away than investigate.And check your local recycling regulations, since most canisters are made of stainless steel, which many curbside pickup services don’t accept. You may need to drive spent canisters to a special drop-off location.
Craft with Bike Tubes
Here in New Mexico, we have tonsof goatheads—spiny demon seeds of an invasive weed that puncture bike tires and stab the bottoms of unshod feet—on ourroads and trails, leading to endless flats. Thankfully, there are many options for recycling old bike tubes: both and will take them via mail-in or drop-off. (Though with REI, call ahead to make sure your local shop participates in the program.) There are also on crafts you can do with old bike tubes, like createearrings or wallets.
Host a Clothing Swap
Keeping apparel in use just nine extra months can reduce the related carbon, water, and waste footprintsby 20 or 30 percent. But most people throw clothing in a garbage bag and bring it to their closest thrift store, many of whichreceivemore donations than they can realistically sell. (So much, in fact, that only is actually resold.) Instead, organize a clothing swap with your friends. Or if you’re holding on to old Patagonia clothingspecifically, the brand offers and resells the used clothing in . Also, San Francisco–based at the end of April, and it will pay you $5 per old T-shirtfrom any brand(up to $25)and then make new ones out of them.
Collect Energy-Bar Wrappers
OK, these don’t really count asgear, but I’m sure you go through a few energy bars now and then. And each one comes in an aluminum-coated, single-use wrapper.will take them off your hands if you rinse the wrappers off and mail them in. The company cleans and melts them into hard plastic that can be . Plus, Clif Bar will donate one cent per wrapper to thefor all qualifying shipments over five poundsto the TerraCycle program.