How To Dispose of Broken Exercise Equipment

If your old at-home exercise equipment has run its course and is taking up space in your basement, it’s time to upgrade.

Gym equipment can break down for various reasons: wear and tear, corrosion, electrical faults, or improper use.

Unfortunately, getting rid of them can be a heavy burden. In this guide, we’ll cover the best disposal options so that you can make room for your new exercise gear.

Best Disposal Options for Old Exercise Equipment

While the thought of getting rid of your old exercise equipment may sound daunting, there are a few options for disposing of them, such as donating them to your local gym, selling them online or to a local scrapyard, or recycling the parts.

Give Away or Donate Working Exercise Equipment

One of the simplest ways to get rid of your old gym equipment is to give it away for free. Reach out to your family, friends, and neighbors to see if they’d like a used stationary bike, dumbbell set, treadmill, or other exercise equipment. Posting on social media, such as Facebook Groups, can also help spread the word. The offer of free gym equipment can quickly attract takers.

For higher quality, commercial grade equipment, you can even ask around at local gyms nearby. Many fitness centers or gyms will gladly accept your donation to them. If the workout equipment is in repair, they may buy it from you.

If no one you know is interested, try posting an advertisement on a free bulletin board site such as Buynothingproject.org or Freecycle.org. These forums promote a sharing economy and aim to prevent usable items from ending up in landfills.

If your exercise equipment is still in working or near-working condition, donating them to people in need is a great option. It’s the perfect way to give back to your community and extend the life of those machines.

Consider donating your small exercise equipment to a trustworthy charity such as Goodwill. They accept smaller items like resistance bands and weights. These organizations distribute the collected, used fitness equipment to underserved communities, including schools, police stations, and hospitals.

Larger equipment items like treadmills and ellipticals are often not accepted at most charities, but consider a local resale or not-for-profit store.

Sell Working Exercise Equipment

You can sell your gym equipment and make some extra cash if you choose not to donate. Consider selling it at a yard sale, pawn shop, or using online platforms such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist. There are also second-hand stores. Make sure to bundle your items together to get a better rate.

Another option is to sell your old exercise equipment to a local metal recycling center. They’re usually receptive to buying in-demand items like cardio equipment and weight lifting machines, where they’re made of metal such as iron and steel. Some scrap metal dealers may even accept certain plastics like Nylon.

If you’re selling broken equipment, it’s essential to communicate defects in the advertisement. Some DIYers may still be keen to buy your hardly-worn exercise equipment if they can fix it. Snap clear and accurate photos, and provide a straightforward yet compelling description. Compare the prices of similar equipment listings to determine a fair price.

Recycle Broken Exercise Equipment

Recycling your outdated exercise equipment is essential for many reasons. It helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. When gym gear is recycled, it’s broken down into component materials and reused for new products. This helps to conserve resources and limit reliance on new materials.

If you want to recycle, there are several options. You can contact your local waste management facility or recycling center to see if they’ll accept your broken exercise equipment. There are even specialized recycling facilities that accept broken or old exercise equipment.

These facilities will dissemble your equipment and separate the various components, such as electronics, plastics, and metals, for proper recycling and disposal. Hazardous materials, like batteries, should always be tested by the proper e-waste facilities and disposed of properly.

Consider contacting the product manufacturer to ask if they have a take-back program. Many manufacturers will offer programs for their environmentally-friendly initiative and incentivize customers to upgrade their equipment with their brand.

Or you can bypass all those options, make your life easier, and give us a call. We’ll work with you to arrange pickup of your old, unwanted items and then responsibly dispose of them.

Need to Get Rid of Broken Exercise Gear? Call Us!

While these disposal methods are great, it still leaves a heavy burden on your shoulders. That’s because, frankly, it’s heavy and hard to move.

Hauling a treadmill out of your home and to a local recycling center is difficult and requires a lot of labor.

The best solution is simply to find a professional junk removal company like Nixxit. As an environmentally-friendly company, we aim to donate or recycle when possible. We’ve developed a wide network of organizations, such as local schools, churches, and donation centers, who would love the opportunity to have access to gym equipment. Not only does it prevent additional waste in landfills, but it also promotes health and fitness in your community!

Schedule your pickup online today and receive a hassle-free experience! No matter the condition of your workout equipment, at Nixxit, our team of specialists will do all the heavy lifting for you.