Alexei Volkov
If you have broken outdoor plastic furniture that you want to recycle, you may first want to consider if it can be repaired or refinished. If not, you could take it to your local recycling centre, but it's important to check beforehand if they accept plastic furniture. You could also try disassembling the furniture and recycling the parts separately. If you are unable to recycle your plastic furniture, you could try selling it or giving it away, but make sure it is cleaned properly first.
Where to recycle broken outdoor plastic furniture
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Disposal | Clean debris before bringing furniture to disposal sites |
| Cleaning | Power wash or hose off dirt and debris |
| Use an all-purpose cleaner to remove dirt, mildew and other contaminants | |
| Recycling | Disassemble parts of plastic furniture to recycle up to 80% of it |
| Check local laws before disposing of large pieces of furniture | |
| Check with your local recycling centre to see if they accept plastic furniture | |
| TerraCycle offers an outdoor furnishings zero-waste pallet for recycling, but it is expensive | |
| Some plastics are fully recyclable, including polyethylene and polycarbonate | |
| Metal is easier to recycle than plastic | |
| Wood furniture cannot be recycled if painted or sealed | |
| Rattan is a naturally renewable material but becomes weak and brittle when exposed to moisture | |
| Selling/Donating | Consider selling or donating furniture if it is still in usable condition |
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What You'll Learn
Local recycling centres
If your local recycling centre accepts plastic furniture, you can take your broken outdoor plastic furniture there for recycling. However, if they do not accept plastic furniture, your options are limited. You can purchase an outdoor furnishings zero-waste pallet from TerraCycle and ship the furniture to them for recycling, but this option can be expensive.
Before bringing your broken outdoor plastic furniture to a disposal site, ensure that you have cleaned it as best as you can. Power washing or hosing off dirt and debris is a good start. You may also want to use an all-purpose cleaner designed for outdoor furniture to remove mildew and other contaminants.
If your broken outdoor plastic furniture is still in usable condition, you can consider selling it or giving it away. Most donation centres that accept furniture will take patio furniture. You can also use Facebook garage sale groups or apps like Letgo and OfferUp to find a new home for your furniture.
If you are able to disassemble your broken outdoor plastic furniture, you may be able to recycle up to 80% of it, depending on the materials. Your city probably has at least one scrap yard that will accept old metal furniture, for example. Remember to research your local laws and regulations around large pieces of furniture disposal before making any decisions.
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Scrap metal recyclers
If your plastic outdoor furniture is broken, it's important to dispose of it properly and promptly to avoid any safety hazards. While recycling plastic furniture can be challenging due to the limited options available, there are still some ways to go about it.
Firstly, check with your local recycling facility to see if they accept plastic furniture. If they do, ensure that you clean the furniture thoroughly before dropping it off. Power washing or hosing off dirt and debris is a good start, and you may also use an all-purpose cleaner designed for outdoor furniture.
In the case that your local recycler doesn't accept plastic furniture, you have a few alternative options. You could consider purchasing an outdoor furnishings zero-waste pallet from TerraCycle. They provide the pallet, which you fill with designated materials, and then ship the furniture to them for recycling. However, this option tends to be quite costly.
Another possibility is to disassemble your plastic patio furniture and recycle the individual parts. If any metal pieces are included, you can take them to a scrap metal recycler. Scrap metal recyclers, such as J.R.'s Advanced Recyclers, accept various metals for recycling, including aluminum, brass, copper, lead, and stainless steel. They purchase scrap metal and offer daily updated prices, although these are subject to change without notice. When bringing metal items to a scrapyard, ensure that they are properly prepared, with any non-metal components removed, to facilitate the recycling process.
If you're unable to recycle your broken plastic furniture, you might consider selling or donating it if it's still usable. Donation centers, Facebook groups, and apps like Letgo and OfferUp are great places to start. Alternatively, you could extend the life of your plastic furniture by refinishing or repairing it.
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Donating to those in need
If your broken outdoor plastic furniture is still usable, you can consider donating it to those in need. Donating is a great way to help others and ensure your furniture does not end up in a landfill. Here are some detailed steps and tips to help you with the donation process:
Finding a Suitable Donation Centre:
Firstly, you will need to find a donation centre that accepts outdoor plastic furniture. Some options to consider are:
- Charity thrift stores: These stores often accept a wide range of furniture and are a great resource for shoppers on a budget. They may have specific requirements for the condition of the furniture, so be sure to check their guidelines before donating.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: This organisation accepts new and gently used furniture, appliances, building materials, and household goods. They have locations across the United States, and many of them offer free pickup of large items. You can find your nearest ReStore location by entering your ZIP code on their website.
- Local donation locations: Check with your local community or social circle to find specific locations that accept furniture donations. You can try posting on Facebook or searching online for "furniture disposal near me" to find local options.
Preparing the Furniture for Donation:
Before donating, it is important to ensure that your outdoor plastic furniture is clean and safe for use. Here are some steps to prepare the furniture:
- Cleaning: Wash the furniture thoroughly to remove any dirt, debris, or mildew. You can use a power washer, hose, or an all-purpose outdoor furniture cleaner.
- Repairs: If possible, consider making any necessary repairs to the furniture to extend its life and ensure it is safe for use.
- Disassembly: If the furniture is too damaged to be repaired, consider disassembling it. This will allow you to recycle some parts, and you can donate the usable components.
Considerations:
While donating is a great option, it is important to keep the following in mind:
- Recipient's Capability: Ensure that the recipient of your donated furniture is capable of repairing or repurposing it. This will help prevent your donation from ending up back in the waste stream.
- Local Regulations: Be aware of any local regulations or laws regarding the disposal of large pieces of furniture. These regulations may impact how and where you can donate your furniture.
- Recycling as an Alternative: If your furniture is too damaged for donation, consider recycling its components instead. For example, plastic furniture can be recycled through TerraCycle's outdoor furnishings zero-waste pallet program.
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Refinishing and repairing
If your plastic outdoor furniture is broken, you can refinish and repair it to extend its life.
Refinishing
If your plastic outdoor furniture is sun-bleached or discoloured, you can refinish it with a fresh coat of paint. It is best to use a spray paint that is specifically designed to stick to plastic. You can use a paint that bonds with plastic to ensure it holds up in different weather conditions. Before painting, clean the plastic surface with a power wash or hose to remove any dirt and debris. You can also use an all-purpose cleaner designed for outdoor furniture to remove mildew and other contaminants.
Repairing
If your plastic outdoor furniture has structural damage, such as fraying or cuts, you can repair it with the right tools and techniques. For plastic wicker furniture, you can repair the weave by gluing the damaged strips with plastic glue. You can also use a precision heat gun to melt and weld the plastic ends together. Cut new plastic wicker strips to size and weave them into the furniture to replace the old strips. You can then paint the new section to match the colour of the furniture.
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Reusing parts for DIY projects
If your outdoor plastic furniture is broken, you can reuse parts of it for DIY projects. Before you get started, make sure to clean the furniture thoroughly. Power washing or hosing off dirt and debris is a good first step, and you may also want to use a specialised outdoor furniture cleaner to remove mildew and other contaminants.
Once your plastic furniture is clean, you can get creative with its parts. Legs from chairs and tables can be reused as legs for other pieces of furniture. Drawers from dressers can be turned into shelving units or medicine cabinets, or left as drawers in homemade furniture. Couch cushions can be used as floor pillows or pet beds, and upholstery fabric can be used to make items like backpacks, purses, pillowcases, or patchwork.
If you have broken wooden furniture, you can also reuse parts of it for DIY projects. Similar to plastic furniture, widowed table legs can become chair legs, and drawers can be turned into shelving units. A wardrobe door might be transformed into a coffee table, and a broken wooden chair can be fixed and repainted.
For smaller DIY projects, you can reuse buttons from old clothing to make button bracelets, and broken plates and saucers can be used as edging for garden areas and trees.
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Frequently asked questions
If your local recycling facility doesn't accept plastic furniture, you have limited options. You can purchase an outdoor furnishings zero-waste pallet from TerraCycle and ship the furniture to them for recycling. However, this option is quite expensive.
You can disassemble parts of your plastic furniture and recycle them. You can also try to refinish the furniture and extend its life.
Wood outdoor furniture cannot be recycled, especially if it has been painted or sealed. You can try to repair it, or break it down and reuse the good pieces to make something new.
Metal furniture is easy to recycle. Your city probably has at least one scrap yard that will accept your old metal furniture.
Make sure to clean your furniture before bringing it to disposal sites. If your furniture is still usable, consider selling it, giving it away, or donating it.
