Planegg (dpa/tmn) –
When the boards have had their day on the slopes, they must be disposed of correctly. But you can also get a second life. Or make another skier happy.
The winter sports season is entering the home straight and for some skis and snowboards the last descent is approaching. When the lifts in the mountains close, the time has come to sort out old boards – but what to do with them?
According to the German Ski Association (DSV), anyone who wants to dispose of old skis usually has to do so in the bulky waste container at the nearest recycling center.
The reason for this lies in the construction of the skis: the bonded composite materials used there were difficult or impossible to separate from one another. This currently makes recycling very expensive and therefore not worthwhile.
After all, according to the DSV, the first smaller manufacturers are trying to use special epoxy resins that can be dissolved again at the end of the ski’s service life. In this way, the skis could be dismantled into their individual parts and recycled according to type.
These pieces of equipment can theoretically be disposed of with the residual waste
And what about the ski boots and bindings? Theoretically, you could throw them in the residual waste at home, but they are also better off at recycling depots.
Good to know: When buying new products, sports retailers or manufacturers sometimes accept old equipment and take care of its disposal and possible recycling of its components.
A new life for old skis
Throwing everything away is only one option. With a little manual skill, skis and snowboards can also be given a second, completely new life – for example as a bench or shelf. Inspiration, for example, offers a series of short videos by the DSV youtubein which top athletes from the association show what can be made from discarded boards.
If you don’t have the necessary tools or generally have two left hands, you can simply hang (or leave hanging) the old skis on the wall as a decorative element.
The equipment life cycle
The question remains, when is it time for new equipment? Since it is often difficult to see from the outside whether the material is worn out or tired, the DSV gives a chronological guideline here: With a use of 10 to 15 days per season, the association estimates the life cycle of skis, bindings and boots at around ten years.
Conversely, this means that if you buy new skis earlier – for example because you are switching from a beginner to an advanced model – you can resell the discarded but still usable equipment with a clear conscience.
