Have you got an old treadmill hanging around that you just don’t know what to do with? Has life got in the way of your daily exercise routine, and you just want that pesky rowing machine gone?
Well, if this is you, you’ve probably realized that getting rid of this stuff can be difficult. Don’t fear though, in this article we’ll suggest a few ways of how to dispose of old exercise equipment and help you clear some much needed space in your basement.
Exercise equipment is big, bulky and heavy. Although thinking about getting rid of it can be quite daunting, there are a few easy ways to go about it. Whether your treadmill is in good working condition and can be donated, or if it’s broken and needs to be recycled or disposed of, there will hopefully be something for you in this article.
Use a removal and disposal service
Probably the easiest and least stressful option if you don’t know what to do with old exercise equipment, is to use a removal and disposal service. There are loads of fantastic junk removal services, such as Weebblejunk, that will come to your house, take away your exercise equipment, and then transport it to a recycling or donation center.
This means you basically don’t have to do any work at all and someone else will do all the heavy lifting and difficult transportation for you. You can also be sure that your equipment won’t be going to waste, as these companies will always take your stuff to be recycled or donated if possible.
How does a junk removal service work?
Using a junk removal service is a very simple process. Firstly, you request a quote from the removal company. You usually have to send a picture of the items you want to get rid of at this stage, so they can work out an accurate quote.
Once you’ve accepted the quote and paid, the service will come round, usually on the same day! They’ll then collect your equipment and take it off your hands to a recycling or donation centre.
This whole process is extremely easy and the fact that it can all be completed in one day makes it a very attractive proposition. Of course, you have to pay for the privilege, but it will probably work out cheaper in the long run than doing it yourself. This service is ideal if you lead a busy life, and don’t want to be bogged down transporting bulky equipment to the dump.
What else can they remove?
Companies like Weebblejunk don’t just deal with old exercise equipment. In fact, they’ll pretty much take away anything you don’t need and want to get rid of. Chairs, tables, beds, garden sheds, trampolines, pianos, you name it! A junk removal service is the best place to go if you have something heavy that you don’t know what to do with.
These services usually dabble in the home removal business as well, transporting your furniture from your old house to your new pad. They’ll also do house and room clear outs, where they completely clean up a room full of junk, and get it out of your hair. This particular service is great for old garden sheds or storage units, where you couldn’t think of anything worse than having to look through them again
How to save money on junk removal?
Although hiring a junk removal service might seem expensive, there are a few things you can do to get the cost down, and make it more economically viable for you.
Get organized
The easiest thing you can do to reduce removal costs is to get yourself and your stuff organized. If a removal company has to search through mountains of junk to get to your old treadmill, then this is obviously going to add time to the labour costs. Try and make sure they have easy access to the equipment, so that they can be in and out as quickly as possible.
If you can manage to do so, the best thing to do is to move your equipment to the roadside just before the removal service arrives. This way they can just chuck it straight in the back of the van and be gone in a matter of minutes. Of course, this isn’t always possible, especially if you live in a flat or some distance from the main road. We’d definitely recommend trying to do this though if it’s at all possible.
Get rid of multiple things at the same time
If you have a lot of equipment or junk that you need to get rid of then it’s definitely worth trying to get rid of it all at the same time. If the junk removal van is coming round to your house, why not make the most of it? This will save you a lot of money and ensure that you won’t have to book another removal in a few weeks.
To do this, have a think and look round your house to see if there’s anything else that you were planning to get rid of in the near future. A removal company will take away furniture, carpets, electronics and more.
Choose a local service
Removal services will partly base their quotes on how far they have to travel to get to your place, and then the distance from there to the recycling centre. To reduce this cost, it makes sense to choose a service that is based close to you, or at least has a branch in your area.
How to dispose of a treadmill myself?
If you have a large enough vehicle, then it is definitely possible to dispose of a treadmill on your own. This might save you a lot of money, but there are a few things to think about when deciding if it is worth trying to do it yourself.
Firstly, you should consider how far away you live from the recycling or donation centre where you want to take the treadmill to. If it’s a fair distance, then you’ll probably end up spending a lot of money in petrol, and when you combine this cost with the labour time you will have to put in, it might not work out in your favour.
Also, you should definitely think about whether or not it is safe for you to get the equipment out of the house on your own. Exercise equipment can be pretty heavy,and shifting it isn’t easy. Be sure to get some of your family members or friends involved if you are planning to do this.
We’d always recommend looking into hiring a junk removal service, especially if you don’t live near a recycling centre. Using a dedicated service will most likely save you a lot of stress, and more importantly reduce the chance of you putting your back out lifting a treadmill!
How do I recycle exercise equipment?
The easiest way to recycle exercise equipment is to take it to your local recycling centre. Here, an attendant will be able to help you and direct you to the correct drop off location – these centres usually have a specific place for large electronic equipment.
If you think your equipment is still in usable condition, then you might be better reaching out to a local charity or group that would be willing to take it from you. There are loads of charities around that are always looking for exercise equipment that they can use in gyms and schools. Have a look online to find your nearest one.
Where to donate exercise equipment?
If your old exercise equipment is fully functioning, then there is absolutely no need for it to be recycled or thrown away. There are loads of groups and charities that would be more than happy to take your old equipment off your hands, to be repurposed for community gyms, schools and other places.
Have a look at your local council pages and on social media to try and find a charity near you that does this. Some charities will be able to come and pick up the equipment, but most won’t. This is where the junk removal teams will again come in handy. They can take the equipment to charities for you, and donate on your behalf.
It’s also worth remembering that charities and groups will only take your stuff if it’s in very good condition and is fully working as it is intended to. This is in the interest of safety since charities have to abide by fire safety and other rules. If your equipment is working but maybe some of the functions aren’t working, then you probably won’t be able to give this directly to a charity. A junk removal service will still take it for you though, and will make a decision themselves whether to send your equipment for recycling, or take it for donation.
