With the seasons constantly changing, the sports seasons are changing, and you can look to sports for scrap. Many times in team sports, new regulations go into effect and require players to purchase new equipment and get rid of their old stuff. With other sports or fitness routines, some people just want fresh equipment, so they are looking for someone or somewhere to get rid of it. We put together some of the most common sports equipment you can keep a look out for scrap metal.
Scrapping Sports Equipment
There are plenty of sports that require equipment made from metal. Many different sports and many different types of metal can be recycled from them. Also, be sure to check with your local scrap yard in your area to make sure they accept the equipment you have. And have them analyze or test the metal if you aren’t sure what it is.
Can You Scrap Gym Equipment?
- Hand Weights – Usually made from iron or steel handles with rubber weights on the end, hand weights can be scrapped for the weight, which is easy to figure out. Just look at the number.
- Bench Press Bars – Usually made from steel, these bars’ standard weight is 25-50 pounds.
- Bikes – Whether stationary or regular, bikes can be scrapped, usually for aluminum or steel. Stationary bikes will have steel and an electric motor inside.
- Fitness Equipment – Big and bulky equipment like treadmills and ellipticals can pay off with steel, copper, motors, aluminum, and stainless steel. Often times homeowners are looking for people to pick them up for scrap.
What About Scrap Sports Equipment?
- Lacrosse Sticks – They usually have a plastic basket with the netting on the top, but the stick is either aluminum or titanium. If you aren’t sure, be sure to scratch the metal; white and soft will be aluminum, and hard and grey will be titanium.
- Baseball/Softball Bats – Before they hit the major leagues with wooden ones, baseball and softball bats are often times made from aluminum. However, newer models are often composite bats (graphite, carbon fiber, fiberglass) and wouldn’t be worth scrapping.
- Pitching Machines – When they are too old to continue to pitch during practices, these can be scrapped for steel and the electric motor.
Any Other Scrap Athletic Equipment?
- Golf Clubs – The irons are ironically often made from titanium or stainless steel shafts. Only the heads are made from iron. You can check them with a scratch test to see what kind of metal you have. Stainless steel will be hard and silver in color, whereas titanium will be hard and dull grey in color.
- Ski Poles – During winter, northerners will often be found on the slopes with ski poles. Those poles are usually made from aluminum and can be scrapped.
Think Before You Scrap
While plenty of sports equipment can be scrapped for their metal, be aware of the situation. First off, make sure that you have permission to take the equipment. If you do, check out the condition of the equipment. If it is completely trashed and can’t safely be used again, then be sure to scrap it. If it is in good condition and can possibly be reused, you have a couple of options. You can try to resell it online for a higher profit than you would get at the scrap yard. Or, if you are kind enough, perhaps a local town or foundation accepts donated used sports equipment.
