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If you can't recycle your climbing ropes and you don’t want to see them head off to the landfill, what should you and can you do with your old climbing ropes?
Whatever path you choose when you retire your old climbing rope, the goal is to divert those petroleum-based materials from the landfill and to get less than safe safety gear out of climbing use.
Depending on how avid of a climber you are, you could be replacing your climbing ropes every season, every year, or maybe every few years. Regardless of the frequency of rope replacement, one common thread is that your old ropes all end up somewhere.
Exactly where they end up has a lot to do with what you decide to do with them.
Nylon is an amazing material. It has a high melting point and is durable, which is part of the reason why it works exceptionally well for use in your dynamic climbing ropes. The caveat to nylon rope is that it takes forever to break down in a landfill, if it does at all, and it is complicated to recycle. There are a few climbing rope companies, like Sterling, that have run a rope recycling program since 2008, making them the first dynamic rope recycling program in the United States.
So, if you can’t always recycle your ropes and you don’t necessarily want to see them head off to the landfill, what should you and can you do with your old climbing ropes?
As a consumer, you always have the option to repurpose your climbing ropes into non-life-saving products. These will vary according to your time commitment and level of creativity. Still, they all save your old ropes from sitting in a pile of garbage somewhere leaking out microplastics into the environment.
Some of the easiest and most useful ways to repurpose or upcycle your old climbing rope include:
- Make a dog leash or dog toys
- Use it as a portable clothesline when camping
- Make rope drink coasters and pot liners as gifts
- Make creative beer koozies that every dirtbag will love
- Add a rope rug to your gear room or garage
- Lean how to make rope baskets
- Make a rope ottoman for your workshop
- Get practical and use an old rope to organize your outdoor gear
- Use some old rope as car tie-downs
There are so many uses for ropes out there. All you need is a little creativity. The thing is, after a while, you might end up running out of new climbing rope craft ideas, especially if you are someone that retires multiple ropes a year. Whether you’re out of ideas, can’t take any more rope decor at home, or you aren’t crafty enough to pursue repurposing rope yourself, then consider donating your rope to someone that will put it to good use.
If you can, participate in the rope recycling programs already in place. Companies like Sterling, PMI, and Millet all accept climbing ropes of any brand to their recycling programs.
Otherwise, look into donating to companies that collect old outdoor gear and turn it into something new. A few companies to consider donating your old climbing rope to include:
Whatever path you choose when you retire your old climbing rope, the goal is to divert those petroleum-based materials from the landfill and to get less than safe safety gear out of climbing use.
