{"id":13259,"date":"2022-04-21T06:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T06:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ceramiccookwarehub.com\/?p=13259"},"modified":"2022-09-30T02:31:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T02:31:18","slug":"recycling-old-pots-pans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceramiccookwarehub.com\/recycling-old-pots-pans\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s What To Do With Your Old Pans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you just bought a new frying pan or a set and now wondering what to do with your old ones? Do you just throw them away? Well no, you can recycle them and there are ways to pass on your used cookware for another life…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Knowing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you’re wondering if you can recycle saucepans, the answer is yes in most cases, but how and where depends on a few things, which I cover below. I also have a few other eco-friendly options<\/a> for ways of moving them on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What to do with old frying pans or other cookware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s a good idea to discard the rusty pans that are no longer safe to use <\/a>(as I wrote), but for other old frying pans or cookware, what you can do is to donate them, recycle them, or repurpose them rather than sending them to landfill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Trash<\/strong>
    You may be able to dispose of them at a landfill near you, but it could come with a cost. This is something you’d need to look into as local rules will differ. You could dispose of them in the trash, but it’s better to look at enviro-friendly options. <\/li>
  2. Donate<\/strong>
    Where can I donate pots and pans? If they are not broken, you could look to give your pots and pans to another home via sites such as     Craigslist<\/a> and Freecycle<\/a>. Then is the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or other charity stores to which you can donate them for resale.
    Places to donate pots and pans: Craigslist, Freecycle, Salvation Army, Goodwill.<\/li>
  3. Repurpose<\/strong>
    There are tons of ideas on Pinterest around repurposing stuff, including old pots and pans. Ideas include using them for growing herbs, succulents, or perennials. You could also use them as your camping gear. One DIY site lists     25 ideas<\/a> for repurposing old cookware and kitchenware. So you could let your imagination go wild.<\/li>
  4. Recycle <\/strong>
    The manufacturer might offer a cookware recycling program.
    Otherwise, look for cookware recycling programs near you. You can just google cookware recycling near me. Recycling will depend on the cookware material.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Recyclable cookware materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Are frying pans recyclable? If you are conscious of your footprint on the environment<\/a>, you may be asking “can I recycle my old pots and pans?” Well of course! The following covers how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It covers recycling options for most cookware materials, including Pyrex, ceramic, Teflon, and aluminum, being the main types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some cookware companies offer a recycling program for your old pots and pans. One like this is the Made In Cookware<\/em> company, which has an opt-in where you can send your old pots and pans back to them. They work with a US metal recycler so you can feel good about discarding your old cookware. I wrote an article on Made In premium stainless steel cookware.<\/a>..but go direct to the Made In Cookware<\/b> site<\/a><\/span> if you want to check out the wider range they offer in cookware and kitchen essentials<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pyrex glass<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Curbside recycling programs generally don’t accept the Pyrex glass type of cookware. This applies to glass lids of pans<\/strong> also. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The reason is Pyrex contaminates the other recyclable glass because it doesn’t melt at the same temperature. Your best option with these is to pass them onto charity or to another home via the above suggestions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ceramic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    By ceramic, I mean 100% ceramic cookware<\/a>. Most people cherish their all-ceramic cookware<\/a>. But if you need to dispose of it, where can it be recycled? Recycling programs generally don’t accept ceramic items because ceramic does not melt.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If intact, you can pass ceramic ware on to new homes (see above).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For broken or chipped ceramic pots or pans, these can look great in the garden as a feature and there is plenty of repurposing and upcycling<\/a> ideas on Pinterest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Zero Waste Institute says the best option is to find a way to …”Break the particles apart and return them to the clay that they were made from”.1<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I know broken up pieces placed in the bottom of pot plants make for excellent drainage. This is good as long as the product is 100% ceramic with no lead or other toxins in the glaze. This is not a concern with cookware sold in the US as it must meet strict safety guidelines<\/a> governing lead content, similar to all food containers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Metal cookware (including stainless steel)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Can I put stainless steel in the recycling bin? You can check, but most curbside recycling programs don’t accept scrap metal and this means metal cookware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Recyclers of scrap metals will probably want to know whether your cookware is nonferrous or ferrous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You should know that your pots and pans contain nonferrous metal<\/strong> if they are made from aluminum, copper or stainless steel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For ferrous metal<\/strong> (iron), see if a magnet will stick to them. Cast iron skillets <\/a>will pass this test. Other cookware with exteriors of stainless steel or another finish may also have a ferrous layer incorporated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Stainless steel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    It’s not as simple to recycle stainless steel as dropping it in the recycle bin, as noted by Green Cities<\/a>, “stainless steel pots and pans can\u2019t be put in single-stream recycling bins.” But instead, the place to discard these pots and pans for recycling is at the metal recyclers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Metal recyclers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Are metal pans recyclable<\/strong>? Check with your local metal recycler to see what they accept. Some accept the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n