How To Recycle Window Blinds

Climate change is never out of the news and here at Appeal, we’re keen to do our part to fight it. In the past, we’ve talked at length about the energy benefits of window blinds and how they can simultaneously reduce your heating bills and carbon emissions. Window blinds are unsung heroes in the struggle against rising global temperatures, and we’re determined to make them as green as possible.

We’ve noticed that our customers tend to share these beliefs. One question that regularly comes up is whether window blinds can be recycled. Sometimes they’re thinking ahead to when they might remove their window blinds years from now, or perhaps they have an old set that they want to replace. Either way, we thought we’d put together a quick explanation on recycling window blinds.

Things To Consider

The first thing to consider is the state of your blinds. If they’re still in decent condition, one of the easiest options is to donate or sell them. There’s always a market for window blinds, so why not place an advert in an online marketplace, or give them to a local charity shop? 

This might not be possible if they’re damaged. If that’s the case, you can try repurposing them. In the past, we’ve seen people dismantle their blinds and turn them into all manner of household items, like Bookmarks, picture frames, and storage baskets. We’ve even had a customer who liked to fold up their blinds like Origami and turned them into birds.

Aluminium, Wood, Plastic, Or Fabric?

If you’re looking to get the blinds recycled, you’ll need to look at what they’re made of; aluminium, wood, plastic or fabric. The materials used in their construction will give you an idea of how to recycle them. Most can be taken to a recycling centre, but if in doubt, ring ahead to make sure they’ll be accepted.

Aluminium and plastic blinds are widely recycled and most centres will accept them (although they tend to like the blinds to be disassembled first). Fabric ones can also be donated to charity clothing bins, so long as you take the time to remove the cords and any other materials first. Curiously, the most awkward blinds to recycle are wooden ones. This might sound strange given that it’s a natural product, but wooden blinds are often treated with varnish or paint during production, and this can complicate things. If you’re looking to recycle wooden blinds, we recommend checking the product label, getting a full list of the materials and speaking with the local Council to see if they’ll accept them. 

The good news is that in most cases, you should be able to ethically dispose of your old window blinds. If you’re not sure, you can always ring your local recycling centre for advice, but they’d rarely turn your blinds away.

Of course, if you’re looking to recycle old window blinds, you’ll want some new ones to replace them. That’s where Appeal Shading can help. Why not download a free brochure to learn more about our range of blinds, or request a free consultation today? If you’re particularly interested in making an environmentally friendly choice, the Eco Roller Blinds (which are made from recycled plastic) are well worth your time. We can’t wait to hear from you.