Golf Ball Recycling: Did You Know Golf Clubs Are Recyclable Too?
The game of golf revolves around golf clubs. They’re the most essential part of a golfer’s kit, and tend to wear the blame for your bad drive shot. They’re well loved, cherished and looked after, but sometimes, they’re also forgotten in the shed or garage.
Golf clubs come in different shapes, sizes, colours and materials. You might be a Callaway ride or die, or own a collection of mixed brands, and with new models constantly being released, it can be easy to accumulate a pile of old or unused clubs – unless you’re one of the rare golfers who are able to resist the temptation and have been using the same trusty clubs for decades.
What to do with end-of-life golf clubs?
Whether it’s time for an upgrade or you’re clearing out some space, when you decide to part ways with your clubs, the million-dollar question is “how do you dispose of them?”. If they’re gently used and loved, you can sell them online, or donate them to a junior golf program, but what if they’re not in playable condition or the above solutions aren’t accessible for you? You can recycle them!
There’s a common misconception that golf clubs can’t be recycled due to the blend of materials, but that only applies to general recycling. Golf clubs are typically made up of a combination of materials, such as iron, steel or graphite for the club head and shaft, while rubber or plastic materials are common for the grip.
As each material needs to recycled differently, they can’t be put in curbside recycling, but it doesn’t mean they can’t be recycled at all. The materials are still valuable resources, so while the process may be more complex, it’s still possible to recycle golf clubs, and becoming increasingly more important to do so.
Environmental Impact of Golf Clubs
According to Arbor Eco, one golf club has the average carbon footprint of approximately 17.5kg of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to:
- 7kg of plastic waste incinerated
- 18km flown on a long-haul flight
- 4,060 charges of an average smartphone
- 16,783 aluminium cans recycled
Recycling your golf clubs keep them out of landfill, reduces waste, conserves and recovers valuable resources, while also reducing the need for new materials and keeping hazardous materials out of the environment.
Golf Club Recycling Pilot Programme
Golf Ball Recycling, in collaboration with Endless Metal Recyclers, have recently launched a golf club recycling pilot programme across the Auckland region, to provide a more responsible solution for end-of-life golf clubs.
The pilot will run throughout the month of October at participating golf courses, coinciding with Recycling Week in Aotearoa New Zealand. The inaugural golf clubs participating in this programme, and contributing to the circular economy, include Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club, Clarks Beach, Remuera, Takapuna, and more. The full list of participating golf courses can be found on here.
The golf courses will host free collection bins for golf clubs to be placed into, and later recycled by Endless Metal Recyclers. All golf clubs are accepted, regardless of their condition, brand or type.
What if my golf clubs aren’t end-of-life?
If your golf clubs still have more life in them and aren’t quite destined for recycling yet, consider:
- Selling them online, via platforms like Birdie Chance or Facebook Marketplace.
- Donating them to junior golf programs, local charities or secondhand op shops.
The above actions are higher on the waste hierarchy, and still contribute to extending the life span of golf clubs, while keeping them out of landfill. Once golf clubs have been reused over and over again, and can no longer be used or repurposed, recycle them responsible and give them a second life.
Every decision and action helps when it comes to sustainability. If every golfer made the effort to recycle or donate their equipment, the snowball effect of each action would create a significant impact.
All your small steps create a big impact.
About Golf Ball Recycling
Golf Ball Recycling (GBR) is Australia and New Zealand’s largest, and first, full-cycle golf ball recycling company, providing waste management solutions for golf companies. Alongside golf balls, we are always asking “what else can golf recycle?” and to close the circular loop, GBR collaborates with local councils, and innovative companies to give the valuable recycled resources a second life.
For more information, visit golfballrecycling.com.au.
