What should happen with old equipment that you can no longer use? First, consider giving it away to someone you know or a local charity. Next, consider reselling it to a retailer. If these Reuse options do not work, then try a recycling option.
The following is provided by CVSan for informational purposes and is not sponsored or recommended by CVSan. Please contact the organization or center listed for complete details, including drop-off and pick-up guidelines.
Donate It to Charity
There are many charities with great programs that collect used sporting goods and give it to those need.
Bad Business Model Bikes (a Castro Valley organization!) repairs and donates bicycles locally.
EcoThrift in Hayward will take your gently used clothing, shoes, and sporting goods.
One World Running will take running gear and shoes and distribute them to Africa, Central and South America as well as to shelters, churches, Native American reserves and Military recruits in the U.S.
Peace Passers collects soccer equipment and gear and donates it all around the world.
Passback is a U.S. Soccer Foundation effort to collect soccer jerseys, balls, and cleats for children in the United States.
Pitch in for Baseball and Softball collects used gear for children in the United States and Central and South American Countries.
Sports for the World’s Children is a California 501(c)3 non-profit who collects donations of all kinds of sporting goods for children in the United States, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Uganda.
Give It Away
Make it easy and just list what you have for someone to come and pick up on: Craigslist, Castro Valley Freecycle Group for “all who want to find a new home for reusable items” or Castro Valley Buy Nothing Group to “Post anything you'd like to give away, lend, or share in this Buy Nothing community group. Ask for anything you'd like to receive for free or borrow."
Host an Equipment Exchange
You can host an equipment exchange like a Castro Valley baseball organization, Castro Valley Little League (CVLL). At their Opening Day events in recent years, CVLL provides various plastic totes to organize items that families bring in to exchange with others like belts, hats, gloves, jerseys, and cleats. The totes organize items and makes exchange easy. Families bring in what they have and exchange for what they need. As you can see in the pictures below, families are able to exchange a variety of items, which reduces waste and saves money in the process!
Sell It
Some businesses have storefronts where you can sell used sporting goods, like Play It Again Sports. There are also lots of options online for selling all sorts of used gear such as eBay, Geartrade, and Sideline Swap. Then there are online stores that generalize in specific sports or items such as: LostGolfBalls.com and RockBottomGolf.com.
Recycle It
If it is no longer usable, considering recycling options. There are options to recycle various sporting goods now. For local drop-off, check out Sports Basement in San Ramon where you can recycle clothing, shoes, and tennis balls.
If you want to collect and recycle things yourself by mail, check out the following options:
Green Guru for bike inner tubes, climbing ropes, wet-suits, event tents and more.
Nike Grind and Nike Reuse a Shoe are recycling old shoes into new products and track surfaces.
Rebounces recycles tennis balls into new tennis courts.
Recycle for Change collects various sports clothing and equipment.
Upcycle It
Once the sporting gear or goods are used up try to upcycle them into something new! Recyclart.org, UncommonGoods.com has some creations that might inspire you. From baseball bat and base seats to basketball hoop tables to skateboard deck shelves and more, BobVila.com has ideas too. If you’re looking for how to make these cool items find step-by-step instructions at DIYs.com and SadiesSeasonGoods.com.
Tips to Reduce Waste at Youth Sporting Events
Looking for more tips to reduce waste at youth sporting events? CVSan has a two page Waste Free Snacks for Sports! flyer that can help you reduce waste from snack time. Where do you start? What to tell your team? What about wrappers? Can you do bag-a-bag? The flyer answers all those questions and more.
The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.
(510) 537-0757