Sadly, most yoga mats are made from difficult-to-recycle materials such as vinyl or PVC (plastic resin code #3). Thus, I recommend students to repurpose or upcycle them instead. The following are options scoured from around the internet. Photos are of the ways I have used to repurpose my old mats. Enjoy!
Upcycling Options
Before repurposing your mat, consider how you will cut it up and use it. Mats can be washed in the washing machine on delicate using tap cold or cold water.
1. KNEE CUSHIONING
Many practitioners experience knee discomfort on harder surfaces, but conversely, a firmer surface can be better for the wrists as it prevents them from sinking and overextending. The knees are very sensitive and everyone should be using some kind of padding for their knees when doing any activity on them such as gardening, garage work, or yoga.
Cut up your mat into smaller pieces and glue at least three layers together to use as knee pad props.
2. Coasters: Coasters for drinks, under plants, etc.
2a.) Glue under ceramic or wood tiles to make a fancy coaster
3. Pet Dish Mat: Place underneath your furry friend's dish to absorb water. Not recommended for animals that like to chew, such as rodents.
4. Front or Side Door Entry Mat and Flooring
Old mats are great for catching dirt, or can be nice for your feet to rest after a long day out of the home.
5. SHELF and Drawer LINERS
Do you have fragile dishes or glasses? trace the shelf or drawer with paper then take the paper over to the yoga mat and cut out the exact liner that you need. This will help with preventing breaks and scratches.
5a) Add additional strength by gluing cardboard under the yoga mat before lining a shelf (tutorial here)
6. CAMPING
Old yoga mats come in handy when you go camping, fishing or hiking. Friends and family who spend time outdoors will be happy to take old yoga mats off your hands. For camping, it's perfect as a mat for the mud in front of your tent or under your sleeping bag
7. HEAT BLOCKER IN THE CAR
Lay an old yoga mat over your car's dashboard to reduce heat on the wheel from the sun. You can even it cut it to match the size of the dashboard.
8. MOUSE PAD
If your mat is cleaner, measure the surface area that you use your mouse and cut to size.
9. INSOLES
Make your shoes more comfortable by cutting up old yoga mats as insoles.
11. CHILD SAFETY FLOORING
Enhance the safety of your children’s playroom by laying down yoga mats as flooring to cushion and protect the area.
12. TABLE'S SHARP EDGES
Use yoga mats to cover sharp table edges, providing a safer environment for young children.
13. LINING PET CARRIERS
Old yoga mats are useful for lining pet carriers to make them more comfortable for pups, or as placement mats under pet food dishes to keep the area tidy.
14. PICNICS
Use an old yoga mat as a comfortable seat for beach outings or picnics on the grass.
15. Yoga Mat Pin Board
We have cork boards so why not yoga mat boards? Pins work well and you can make the pin board in many shapes and styles depending on how you cut up the mat.
16. UNDER FLOWERPOTS
Place cut pieces of old yoga mats under flowerpots or vases to prevent water leaks from seeping into the floor.
If all else fails, please find us at one of our coming up marketplaces or events! Sign up to our newsletter to know where we will be. We gladly accept old yoga mats as we can donate them here locally to charities and different organizations.
With love,
17. Stair treads
Reuse your old yoga mat to create safe and colorful step treads for stairs. Cut your mat into rectangles slightly smaller than the size of your stairs — glue on for a permanent solution or let the mat's inherent stickiness hold it in place is you'd prefer easy removal. You can use these on outside or inside stairs. And they're easy to wipe clean, too! – 1)
18. Insolation
Plug up drafty places and save energy — windows, doors, under window air conditioners 1)
19. Homemade Stamps or Linocuts
Cut into shapes and use as stamps with ink made for print making. For deeper carving cut a few layers together then stick to something stronger such as wood.
20. Abrasion Protection:
Cut up the mat to match the object for packing or while in a vehicle. The cushion will protect the object and the surrounding areas.
21. Standing Mat
Standing mats reduce body pain by giving your feet a cushion. Cut the mat to the length and width of where you stand then glue layers together to be about one inch thick.
22. Mobile
Cut out different shapes and punch one hole at the top. Then string them to a ring and voila you have a yoga mobile.
23. Area Rug Grip
Cut to size to match the corners of an area rug or in the center. Doing so underneath the rug will reduce the rug moving around. This works best with grippy mats.
24. Jungle Gym Turf
Spread out the mat to provide a soft landing for your children (or yourself) while playing on a jungle gym.
25. Stool cushion
pictured here is a squatty potty which I added thr yoga mat too. (Click here for a tutorial)
DONATION OPTIONS
1. TO ANIMAL SHELTERS
Animal shelter owners often welcome donations of old yoga mats, which they can repurpose into cozy sleeping spots for puppies, cats, and adult dogs. These mats provide a soft, insulating layer that helps keep the animals comfortable and warm, especially those in shelters with hard floors.
2. Older Folks Retirement Villages
Old yoga mats have many beneficial uses for older adults.
beside a bed to make it easier to get in and out of bed
If in ok condition for the retiree to practice yoga who usually doesn't have the income to purchase a mat
For their animal companies to have a nice place to nap
3. Unhoused People Shelters
Unhoused people are camping without luxury or peace of mind. A yoga mat can help reduce the temperature from the ground and moisture.
Recycling Options
It's rare for local recycling center to accept yoga mats due to majority of them containing PVC plastics. Therefor I would call your local recycling center before bringing them. (4). Luckily there are some organizations trying to solve this problem.
Here are places that recycle yoga mats and turn them into something else:
CONTINUOM COLLECTIVE
The mats that are in good condition they donate to social groups in need. The rest they recycle. Learn more here: https://continuom.org
References:
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