When my first child had an accident at home, I realised we hadn't childproofed the house as well as we could have. Thankfully, they were fine, but I learned my lesson and began a thorough inspection of my home and garden. I got to work addressing the various hazards we had overlooked, and I started this blog to help other parents think objectively about the hazards in their own homes. I post about a variety of topics, such as pool safety, choosing a safe garden fence, storing medication and cleaning products, window and door locks and kitchen safety for kids. I hope you find my blog useful and informative.
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Childproofing Your Home And Garden
Are You Getting New Window Blinds? Here's What to Do with the Old Ones
Ana Gonzales
When you make the decision to install new window blinds in your home, there's something that you need to consider. What about the old blinds? Blinds are generally extremely durable, so this might be the first time you've ever had to dispose of old blinds. Simply throwing them away with your rubbish can be a waste, since many types of blinds are made from materials that can be reused or recycled. Allowing these old blinds to be reused or made into something else is great for the environment, but how do you go about doing this?
Aluminum Blinds
These blinds are exceptionally easy to recycle. You just need to remove the ropes and pulleys (as these sections cannot be recycled along with the aluminium). Your local council recycling centre will accept the blinds, and they will then be completely recycled. The headrail is also aluminium and can be recycled along with the blinds. If you have a large amount of metal that can be recycled, you may wish to take it to a scrap metal dealer and get some money for it. Attempting to sell the old blinds to a scrap metal dealer will not usually yield much cash (unless you have a lot of them). Dealers buy by weight, and the blinds are too lightweight to really be worth much on their own.
Bamboo Blinds
Bamboo blinds (also known as woven wooden blinds) cannot be recycled due to the fibrous texture of the material. They can be taken to a charity shop and donated, but of course they will only be of use to someone who has windows the same size as yours. Bamboo blinds are generally made from untreated material, which means they are biodegradable. You can cut them into small pieces and dispose of them with your rubbish or even add them to your garden compost.
Fake Wooden Blinds
Fake wooden blinds are generally made of a composite material (wood pulp held together with glue or a plastic resin) and cannot be recycled. These should be donated to a charity shop.
Wooden Blinds
Wooden blinds can only be recycled if they are untreated. Wooden blinds that have been painted or have had a heavy coat of lacquer applied are generally unsuitable for recycling. Your local council recycling centre will be able to tell you if they are able to be recycled. If this is not the case, the most appropriate method of disposal is to simply throw them away.
Your windows will soon be adorned with beautiful new blinds, and there's no reason that your old blinds can't be of good use. Whether they end up in someone else's home or being made into something else, it's best to consider your options before you throw them away.
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