The quick answer
- Usable skis: sell them, take them to a ski swap, or donate them to a thrift store, youth ski program or school club. Only give away gear that is intact and safe to use.
- Worn-out skis: they almost never go in curbside recycling. Most local programs say to put them in the trash or take them to a landfill or transfer station.
- Too long for the cart? Bundle them for bulky pickup or haul them to a drop-off site. Some sites want the bindings removed first.
- In between: turn them into a bench, coat rack, fence or garden edging, or offer them free to artists and builders.
- Metal bindings can often go to a scrap metal yard once they are off the skis.
Why skis are hard to recycle
A ski looks simple, but it is a sandwich of very different materials glued together under heat and pressure. A typical modern ski has a wood or composite core wrapped in fiberglass, sometimes with carbon fiber or metal layers, a plastic top sheet, plastic sidewalls, a polyethylene base and steel edges running the full length. The bindings add plastic, aluminum and steel.
Recyclers make money on clean, single-material streams. Pulling the steel edges and separating epoxy-bonded layers takes time and specialized equipment, so a pair of skis tossed in a blue bin is just contamination. That is why recycling guides from places as different as central Vermont and Cuyahoga County, Ohio, both say to keep skis out of regular recycling.
Ski-specific recycling has been tried. Recycle Utah in Park City started a ski recycling effort in 2016 with the industry group Snowsports Industries America, but after the recycling market shifted and the industry program ended, it turned the effort into a reuse program that resells donated skis and snowboards as-is. Research in Europe is working on taking skis apart, but for most U.S. households the realistic options today are reuse, repurposing or the trash.
First choice: sell, swap or donate
If the skis are still in decent shape, someone else can almost certainly use them.
- Ski swaps. Many ski clubs, school teams, recreation departments and resorts run gear swaps every fall. You set a price, they handle the sale and usually keep a small cut to support the program.
- Consignment and used-gear shops. Outdoor consignment stores take newer skis in good condition. Some ski shops buy back or trade in used gear.
- Online. Marketplace listings, Craigslist, eBay and gear-trading sites work well for popular models. Include length, model year and binding type in the listing.
- Thrift stores and charities. Many accept skis, especially in snowy regions. Kids’ skis are in demand because children outgrow them fast.
- Retailer trade-ins. Programs such as REI’s member trade-in accept some used outdoor gear for store credit. Check what they are taking at the moment before you go.
One practical limit: bindings are safety equipment, and ski shops generally will only adjust bindings that the manufacturer still supports. Very old skis with out-of-date bindings may be hard to resell for skiing, so for those, skip to repurposing or disposal. When you donate, the central Vermont district’s guidance is a good rule of thumb: only pass on items that are intact, work properly and are safe to use.
Brand take-back and reuse programs
A few manufacturers now take their own gear back. HEAD’s RENEW Ski program, for example, asks owners to return its skis within five years so the company can reuse the wood core, fiberglass layer and tip protector and sort the remaining parts for recycling. Tecnica Group’s Recycle Your Boots program collects alpine ski boots of any brand at collection points, mainly in Europe. These programs change and are often limited by region, so check the brand’s website before shipping anything.
Local reuse programs exist too. Some recycling centers and transfer stations run reuse shelves or “tip shops” that resell skis and other sports gear. Call your local center to ask whether it takes skis for reuse.
Repurpose them
Skis are long, flat, strong and weatherproof, which makes them popular for DIY projects. Common ideas include:
- Benches and Adirondack-style chairs made from several skis side by side
- Coat and hat racks, shelf brackets or a wall display
- Garden fencing, raised-bed edging or a trellis
- A “shot ski” for a cabin or party
- Mailbox posts, signs or bottle openers
If you do not want to build anything yourself, offer them free online. The Town of Truckee, California, specifically suggests posting unusable skis for free so artists can use them. Some woodworkers and ski furniture makers will also take old pairs.
Throwing out skis that are done
Broken, delaminated or ancient skis with no reuse value are ordinary solid waste in most places. Truckee, for instance, directs residents to take unusable skis to its regional landfill, and Cuyahoga County’s guidance says broken or unusable sporting goods go in the trash. Here is how to handle them:
- Remove the bindings if you can. Most come off with a screwdriver. Separating them lets you scrap any metal and makes the skis lie flat. Some transfer stations, such as those run by Alpine Shire in Australia, refuse skis that still have bindings attached, so ask your site.
- Check your hauler’s rules. Skis are often too long to fit in a closed trash cart. Some haulers allow items bundled and tied next to the cart, while others treat them as bulky waste with a scheduled pickup.
- Or haul them yourself. A landfill or transfer station will usually take a few pairs with your other household trash. Watch the steel edges, which can be sharp, especially on cracked skis.
- Cutting is optional. You can cut skis in half with a reciprocating saw to fit a bin, but wear eye protection and gloves; fiberglass dust and metal edges are not friendly to bare skin.
To find a drop-off site, search dumps and transfer stations near you and call ahead for fees and rules. Clearing out a whole garage? Our guide to where to dump furniture and bulky items covers loads that include bigger pieces.
Boots, poles, bindings and helmets
- Ski boots are mostly hard plastic with metal buckles. Look for a boot take-back program first; otherwise, usable boots can go to a swap or thrift store and worn-out ones go in the trash.
- Poles are usually aluminum or carbon. Aluminum poles can go to scrap metal after you pull off the plastic grips and baskets. Carbon poles go in the trash.
- Bindings are a mix of metal and plastic. Metal-heavy bindings are worth asking a scrap yard about.
- Helmets are generally built to protect against one serious impact, and makers advise replacing them after a crash or as they age, so most should not be donated for use. Trash them unless the maker or a local program offers a take-back.
Other outdoor gear raises similar questions. See our guides to disposing of a kayak, old golf clubs and an old tent.
What not to do
- Do not put skis in the recycling bin. Curbside programs do not accept them, and they only contaminate the load.
- Do not burn them. The plastics, resins and coatings should not go in a fire pit or wood stove.
- Do not donate unsafe gear. Cracked skis, broken bindings and old helmets can hurt someone.
- Do not leave them at a donation bin after hours or dump them at a trailhead. That is illegal dumping in most places.
Old ski disposal FAQ
Can you recycle old skis?
Not in curbside recycling. Skis are made of wood, fiberglass, plastic and steel bonded together, which ordinary recycling programs cannot separate. A few brand take-back programs reuse parts, but for most people the options are reuse, repurposing or the trash.
Can I put skis in my trash can?
Often yes, if they fit and your hauler allows it. Skis are usually longer than a closed cart, so you may need to bundle them for bulky pickup, cut them down or take them to a landfill or transfer station.
Where can I donate old skis?
Try ski swaps run by clubs, schools or resorts, thrift stores, youth ski programs and outdoor consignment shops. Only donate skis and bindings that are intact and safe to use.
Should I take the bindings off before throwing skis away?
It is a good idea. Removing them lets you scrap any metal, makes the skis easier to bundle, and some drop-off sites will not accept skis with bindings still attached.
What can I make out of old skis?
Popular projects include benches, chairs, coat racks, shelves, garden fencing, a shot ski and signs. If you do not want to build anything, offer them free online to artists and woodworkers.
How do I get rid of old ski boots?
Look for a boot take-back program, sell or swap boots in good shape, and put worn-out boots in the trash. Metal buckles can be removed for scrap if your yard accepts small pieces.
The bottom line
To dispose of old skis, start with reuse: sell them, bring them to a ski swap, donate them if they are safe, or check for a brand take-back. If they are past using, repurpose them or offer them free to makers. Skis that are truly done go in the trash or to a landfill or transfer station, with the bindings removed and any metal sent to scrap. Keep them out of the recycling bin.