Is it possible to recycle a vacuum flask?
October 29, 2016 11:36 AM Subscribe
I have a Zojirushi travel mug that I have had for a while. Someone gifted me a new one. What do I do with the old one? I don't to just toss the old one in the trash so it ends up in a landfill, but I don't know what else to do with it.
I would like to recycle my Zojirushi travel mug. I've Googled, of course, but I'm coming up short. I don't want to just toss it if there is a way to recycle it.
It still works okay, but since someone has given me a new one I don't need two. I was thinking of seeing if any of the beggars or homeless people in my area would find it useful (to keep beverages hot during the winter). It still functions but it's kind of beaten up. Is it too weird to approach a person on the street with this? I don't want to insult anyone by offering this, but on the other hand would it be seen as insulting (given that they are begging)?
Is there any other way to recycle them? I live in Europe, so any solution relevant to anywhere in this part of the world would be appreciate. Even if there is nothing in my country, I'd be willing to take it with me elsewhere to drop it off at a recycling center that would use it.
I would like to recycle my Zojirushi travel mug. I've Googled, of course, but I'm coming up short. I don't want to just toss it if there is a way to recycle it.
It still works okay, but since someone has given me a new one I don't need two. I was thinking of seeing if any of the beggars or homeless people in my area would find it useful (to keep beverages hot during the winter). It still functions but it's kind of beaten up. Is it too weird to approach a person on the street with this? I don't want to insult anyone by offering this, but on the other hand would it be seen as insulting (given that they are begging)?
Is there any other way to recycle them? I live in Europe, so any solution relevant to anywhere in this part of the world would be appreciate. Even if there is nothing in my country, I'd be willing to take it with me elsewhere to drop it off at a recycling center that would use it.
Best answer: Maybe fill it with hot coffee and then offer it to a homeless person? Tell them to keep the mug, then you aren't just offering a beaten up mug.
posted by cecic at 11:45 AM on October 29, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by cecic at 11:45 AM on October 29, 2016 [19 favorites]
Do you have a local Buy Nothing or Freecycle group? That kind of thing would be picked up in a hot second on my local Buy Nothing group (on Facebook).
posted by peacheater at 11:48 AM on October 29, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 11:48 AM on October 29, 2016 [9 favorites]
Is there a craigslist free or freecycle type site where you can list it? It's a pretty fancy mug if it still works.
posted by the twistinside at 11:49 AM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by the twistinside at 11:49 AM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seconding keeping it as a backup/spare. Your new one may fail, get lost, damaged, etc.
posted by spinifex23 at 12:09 PM on October 29, 2016
posted by spinifex23 at 12:09 PM on October 29, 2016
Give it to a charity shop?
posted by MsMolly at 12:10 PM on October 29, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by MsMolly at 12:10 PM on October 29, 2016 [12 favorites]
If your old one still works, why not give the new one to a charity shop or a raffle or something? The new one is much more valuable to other people, but it sounds like they're about equally valuable to you. You're not obligated to use the new one just because it's new!
posted by c'mon sea legs at 12:40 PM on October 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by c'mon sea legs at 12:40 PM on October 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
I don't think it's likely to be recyclable as-is, no. Composite items (made from multiple types of materials) generally aren't unless either they have valuable components (electronics) or it is required by law (batteries).
That said, some of its parts should be recyclable. The body of the mug is presumably going to be mostly made from stainless steel, and most of the trim pieces will likely be HDPE plastic. If you wanted to do the work of breaking the mug apart into its component materials, it could probably be recycled. In my town that would mean putting the plastic in the recycling bin and dropping the steel off at the metal pile in the town transfer station; the appropriate procesure for your jurisdiction will vary.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 2:27 PM on October 29, 2016
That said, some of its parts should be recyclable. The body of the mug is presumably going to be mostly made from stainless steel, and most of the trim pieces will likely be HDPE plastic. If you wanted to do the work of breaking the mug apart into its component materials, it could probably be recycled. In my town that would mean putting the plastic in the recycling bin and dropping the steel off at the metal pile in the town transfer station; the appropriate procesure for your jurisdiction will vary.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 2:27 PM on October 29, 2016
Keep it as a rotating mug so you don't have to worry about washing it every damn day. I have two Contigo mugs for this purpose, fill it up, bring it home and straight to the dishwasher it goes, then I use the clean one the next day and so forth with the rotation. I found doing this actually helps reduce dragging office germs around to boot because the dirty mug gets fully sanitized during the dry cycle in the dishwasher. I also cannot be trusted with not forgetting my travel mugs at work, so if I forget to bring it home I still have uninterrupted coffee for my next day's commute.
posted by floweredfish at 7:45 PM on October 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by floweredfish at 7:45 PM on October 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's nice to have a spare mug to bring coffee for a friend on hikes / roadtrips / etc. Otherwise, I'd probably regift the new one, assuming the old one still works.
posted by momus_window at 9:38 PM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by momus_window at 9:38 PM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Check with your (work?) friends or family. Anyone who knows just how fantastic those Zojirushi travel mugs are would be elated to give it a new life.
But also, I really like your idea of giving it to someone who would especially benefit from its light weight design and super duper heat retention. I made hot tea two days ago at 8am in mine, it was still hot at 6pm.
posted by mcbeth at 9:54 PM on October 29, 2016
But also, I really like your idea of giving it to someone who would especially benefit from its light weight design and super duper heat retention. I made hot tea two days ago at 8am in mine, it was still hot at 6pm.
posted by mcbeth at 9:54 PM on October 29, 2016
Best answer: It been a long time sense I was on the streets, but I would have been totally stoked if someone had asked me if I wanted one of those.
posted by ridgerunner at 10:03 PM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ridgerunner at 10:03 PM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for all the great suggestions.
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 10:02 AM on October 30, 2016
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 10:02 AM on October 30, 2016
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posted by mhoye at 11:43 AM on October 29, 2016 [6 favorites]