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Repair or donate first, then scrap. Metal hand tools are straightforward scrap once non-metal parts come off. Powered equipment is different: drain the fuel and oil at least 24 hours ahead, take those to household hazardous waste, and only then take the machine to a scrap recycler. Many counties accept mowers, blowers, and chainsaws free. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
Shovels, rakes, hand tools, hoses, and powered equipment such as mowers, trimmers, and blowers. Simple scrap once the fluids and non-metal parts are dealt with.
Where to Recycle
- Scrap metal yards, for drained and stripped equipment
- County drop-offs, which often take powered yard equipment free
- Household hazardous waste, for drained fuel and oil
- Thrift stores, community gardens, and tool libraries
- Auto parts retailers, for used oil, calling first
How to Prepare
- 1Repair, sharpen, or rehandle before replacing, since most tool failures are the handle rather than the steel
- 2Donate usable tools to a charity, community garden, or tool library
- 3Knock the dirt off and take metal hand tools to a scrap yard
- 4Drain fuel and oil from powered equipment at least 24 hours before drop-off
- 5Take the drained fuel and oil to household hazardous waste, never a landfill or drain
- 6Strip tires, plastic housings, and other non-metal parts, which go in the garbage
- 7Take out any battery and recycle it separately
- 8Check your county drop-off, since many accept powered yard equipment at no charge
Special Instructions
The fluid rule is the part with a concrete number attached. Hennepin County tells residents to drain fluids at least 24 hours in advance and take them to household hazardous waste, and accepts equipment at scrap metal recyclers only if all non-metal pieces, tires, and fluids have been removed first. Its drop-offs take chainsaws, edgers, mowers, leaf blowers, pressure washers, and snow blowers at no charge. Used oil is not landfill material anywhere; Colorado's health department states it is prohibited from disposal in a landfill, and auto parts retailers commonly take up to five gallons, though you should always call first. Agencies consistently rank donating, selling, and repairing above recycling for tools, which is sensible given a good spade outlives several owners.
Environmental Impact
Hand tools are among the most durable objects in a house and the steel in them is infinitely recyclable, so the environmental question is almost entirely about whether a tool gets repaired or replaced. A new ash handle costs a fraction of a new tool and takes minutes to fit. For powered equipment the fluids matter more than the metal, since a few ounces of oil or fuel in the wrong place causes more harm than the whole chassis going to landfill would.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Replace a broken handle instead of the whole tool
- Sharpen and oil rather than replace
- Donate to a community garden or tool library
- Borrow or rent equipment you use once a year
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Not Accepted
- Powered equipment with fuel or oil still in it
- Tools with tires or plastic housings still attached at scrap yards
- Used oil in a landfill or any drain
- Batteries left in cordless tools
Related recycling guides
- How to recycle Plastic Plant Pots
- How to recycle Sporting Goods
- How to recycle Holiday Lights
- How to recycle Holiday Decorations
- How to recycle Toothbrushes and Toothpaste Tubes
- How to recycle Candles
- How to recycle Clothes Hangers
- How to recycle Linens/Bedding
- How to recycle Toothbrushes
- How to recycle Dishes/Dinnerware
Recycle garden tools
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