Getting new blinds is exciting! You’ll give your home or business a fresh look. Whether your blinds are wholly shot and don’t function at all or you’re just ready for a new look, updating blinds is a great way to update a space. The only downside is the old blinds. What do you do with them? Do you toss them in the trash?
Fortunately, you don’t have to send your blinds to the dump. There are many more environmentally friendly ways to dispose of them. Through a mix of recycling, reusing and upcycling, you can give your blinds a second life. Exactly how you do it depends on the type of blinds you have and their condition.
Any blinds that are in decent condition could be a treasure for someone else! A great place to donate gently used blinds and shades is Habitat for Humanity’s Restore, which sells useable construction materials and home items in benefit of the charity. You can also find local churches, shelters and housing organizations that may be able to use the blinds.
However, if you don’t think your blinds are up for a second run or you’re interested in other solutions, you can also consider recycling, upcycling and reusing your blinds in other days. Here are our top recommendations for how to deal with the main types of blinds:
Aluminum and PVC Blinds
Aluminum is recyclable, and PVC is sometimes recyclable. Confirm with your local recycling center to find out if you can recycle these items. You may need to remove the cords and any non-aluminum or PVC parts before recycling your blinds.
Wood and Woven Blinds
Unfortunately, you can’t recycle treated wood the traditional way. However, if your wooden or woven blinds are beyond a second use, there are some other solutions. You can re-use the louvers of the wood blinds for craft and DIY projects around the house. From garden markers to décor, you can find a use.
Woven blinds made from bamboo or other fibers can be cut and adjusted to serve as anything from placemats to beach mats or even lampshades.
Thankfully, throwing away wooden or woven blinds is not as bad as disposing of other kinds. Because the fibers and wood are natural, they will decompose on their own within a reasonable amount of time.
Faux Wood Blinds
These blinds are usually a mixture of PVC and recycled hardwood, meaning it’s impossible to recycle them. If they can’t be donated, you could also use the louvers for craft projects around the house.
Roman Shades and Curtains
Because Roman shades and curtains are fabric, you may be able to find a way to reuse this fabric. Cut it into pieces for placemats and other projects around the house. However, if you can’t find any way to use them, you can also donate the fabric. Thrift stores often send off unusable materials to factories to be used as industrial rags or insulation.
Cellular Shades
Once again, you can use these shades as filler or insulation for industrial purposes. If you have no other way to use the shades, cart them off to a thrift shop.
These are solutions you can feel great about, as they are responsible methods to dispose of blinds in environmentally friendly ways. Although it may take some creativity to re-use or upcycle your blinds correctly, it’s worth it in the end.
Are you ready to purchase new blinds or shades? Stop by Aero Shade today to see our fantastic product options. We look forward to serving you soon!