Recycling Laminate Flooring
The major problem with laminate flooring is that it isn’t like other types of wood. This is because, to give it that laminated shine, chemicals are added to it. This, of course, results in many people wondering whether they can recycle laminate flooring.
Laminate flooring is recyclable. The tricky part is finding a place locally that will accept it. Check with your local recycling center, landfill, and stores that sell flooring to see if they can take your old laminate flooring. If not, then you’re probably stuck throwing it in the trash.
The truth? You probably can.
Can You Recycle Laminate Flooring?
In the past, it would have been impossible to recycle laminate flooring. This is because the chemicals on top of the laminate would have been hard to separate from the wood.
This was a shame since about 90% of laminate flooring would be quality wood that could be recycled. Thankfully, various recycling companies, and even laminate flooring manufacturers, have been working hard on processes that will allow them to recycle laminate flooring.
Can You Reuse Old Laminate Flooring?
You can reuse old laminate flooring as it isn’t glued to the subfloor. Remove each plank, being sure not to damage the tongue-in-groove. After removing the flooring, you can re-install it in the usual fashion. You should choose a space with less area than the initial installation for the re-install.
Nowadays, you can recycle laminate flooring. The only real issue you will have is finding somewhere that will accept laminate flooring. Although, we will discuss that more in the next section.
Remember, if you can recycle something, you should always try to recycle it. If you don’t, you’re doing environmental damage than necessary.
Where to Recycle Laminate Flooring
If you want to recycle your laminate flooring, you will need to track down a location in your local area that can do it for you. Due to the required processes, not all recycling centers can deal with this flooring.
Just because a place deals with wood does not mean it can deal with laminate. There is a vast difference between creating wood chips from a standard type of wood and one coated with chemicals.
One thing that has started to happen recently is that more and more major laminate flooring manufacturers have begun to introduce recycling schemes. They will come and collect it from you and recycle it using their processes.
You may want to look into this if you cannot get it recycled in your local area. Not all manufacturers can offer this type of service, though.
If you are a business, you may find that your local recycling center will not deal with you. Many of them will be limited to household users that probably do not have a lot of laminate flooring that needs to be recycled.
You will need to try and track down a recycling center that deals with commercial customers. You may have to pay a small fee for the recycling to be carried out here.
What Can I Do With Used Laminate Flooring?
Used laminate flooring can be recycled. Up to 85% of the materials used in laminate flooring can be recycled. Contact one of the major manufacturers to take part in their recycling program. You can also remove laminate flooring since it isn’t glued to the subfloor and reuse it in another area.
Laminate Flooring When It’s Recycled
Laminate flooring will be recycled just like any other type of wood. However, because some of the chemicals will need to be removed from the product, they may be recycled in a different batch from the other wood.
Most importantly, recycling laminate flooring aims to turn it into wood chips. Most will end up as a filler and, if it has been correctly processed, as fuel. It is unlikely that laminate flooring will ever be used in construction projects again.
This is because there isn’t much that can be done with it after it has been processed. However, most other types of wood will be used in construction projects once they have finished processing.
In rare cases, laminate flooring can be turned into pulp. This means that it can be used in the production of paper. Although, even fewer recycling centers will be equipped to deal with this.
Putting Laminate Flooring in the Standard Trash
It is unlikely that you can, no. This applies even if the laminate flooring can’t be recycled in your area.
Most places will have size limits on what can be placed in the trash. As a result, you certainly wouldn’t be able to get laminate flooring.
You will likely have your trash left by the side of the road. The only real option you will have here is hiring a dumpster to put this waste in.
That being said, under no circumstances do we recommend that you throw laminate flooring away in the trash. This will only end up in the landfill or may be burned. In both cases, toxic chemicals will be released into the environment.
It would be best to remember that recycled laminate flooring reduces the wood industry’s demand. This means that your recycling means that fewer trees will need to be cut down. Once again, this means that you will have a highly beneficial impact on the planet you live on.
What Is The Least Toxic Flooring?
As a general rule, the least toxic flooring is traditional hardwood. Since it only contains natural wood as the main ingredient, there aren’t any poisonous additives. You only need to worry about the potential of toxins being added when the floor is stained or sealed.
The Potential for Upcycling Latex Gloves
Upcycling converts waste materials or discarded products into new materials or products of higher quality or value. In the context of latex gloves, upcycling presents an opportunity to repurpose discarded gloves into new, usable products rather than sending them to landfills or incineration.
The potential for upcycling latex gloves is significant, as the demand for disposable gloves has skyrocketed in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting increase in hygiene and infection control measures. As a result, the amount of latex gloves being discarded has also increased, presenting a major waste management challenge.
Upcycling latex gloves can not only reduce waste and conserve natural resources, but it can also create economic opportunities and stimulate innovation. For example, recycled latex gloves can create various products, such as rubber mats, playground surfaces, and even sneakers.
To realize the full potential of latex glove upcycling, it is important for stakeholders to prioritize the development of effective and efficient upcycling technologies and processes, as well as to establish incentives and regulations that encourage the adoption of upcycling practices.
Other Ways to Dispose of Laminate Flooring?
If the laminate flooring is in fairly decent condition, and you have a good amount of it, then you may be able to sell it. Although, to be honest with you, this is more the type of thing you should be giving away for free than anything else. We can’t imagine that many people are willing to part with their cash for a bit of old laminate flooring.
Under absolutely no circumstances should you burn laminate flooring? Remember what we said earlier about the chemicals in laminate flooring?
Well, if you burn it, you are going to be breathing in some pretty toxic fumes. We can’t imagine it will be good for the environment either. You can burn almost all wood, but this flooring will always be an absolute no-go.
Conclusion
You can recycle laminate flooring. Although you may have to track down somewhere that can recycle it. At the moment, not every recycling center will deal with laminate flooring.
If you cannot find a local recycling center or manufacturer in your area, you’re fine throwing laminate flooring in the trash or in a dumpster you’ve rented or owned.
