Bowling balls have been a popular sport and pastime for many years. The first bowling ball was created in 1895, made out of wood and weighing 16 pounds (7 kilograms). Bowling balls have come a long way since then. In the present day, you can find them being made from many different types of materials, such as resin or rubber.
In today’s article, we will go over whether or not your old bowling ball can be recycled. We will also go over what happens to your old bowling ball after it is thrown away as well as recycle information regarding the material components that make up your favorite bowling ball.
Bowling Balls Can Be Recycled
Can all bowling balls be recycled? No, not all of them can be recycled. Bowling balls that are made from rubber or resin materials can be recycled, but bowling balls that are made from other components such as metal cannot be recycled.
The material components of a bowling ball are important to consider when attempting to recycle your old ball. If you have purchased your bowling ball through some type of promotion or special offer then it is very likely that the manufacturer has used varying types of materials in production. While this may not seem harmful, it does make recycling more difficult because different types of materials require different recycling processes.
Recycling A Rubber Or Resin Bowling Ball
If you have purchased your favorite bowling ball through some type of special offer or promotion, chances are high that it is made out of rubber or resin materials.
How do you dispose of a bowling ball made? out of rubber or resin materials? When disposing of your old bowling ball, you can either send it to the local landfill or recycle it. If you choose to recycle your old rubber or resin ball, then you can do so by taking it to a local recycling plant that accepts the material type in question.
Can all recycling plants accept bowling balls made out of rubber and resin? Yes, in most cases they can. Just check with them before dropping off your ball just to make sure that they are able to take it.
How Are Rubber And Resin Bowling Balls Recycled?
Both rubber and resin are flexible materials which means that they can be recycled fairly easily – simply melt down the material and mold something new! The only problem is that bowling balls are not always made out of rubber or resin, so the process would be fairly lackluster if you could only recycle your ball in this way.
Recycling A Bowling Ball That Is Made From Metal Or Other Components
There are several components that make up your typical bowling ball. The main component however is resin. This makes recycling a bit more difficult because not all resins are recyclable – there are two different types that will determine how you can recycle your old bowling ball.
Recyclable Resins
One type of recyclable resin is polystyrene – this type of resin can be recycled into three different items: insulation foam, packing peanuts, and plastic utens. Unfortunately, it cannot be recycled into new bowling balls.
Recyclable Resin #2
The second type of recyclable resin is polypropylene, which can be recycled into plastic lumber, decking, or fencing. Unfortunately, this type of resin cannot be used to manufacture new bowling balls
What Happens To Your Old Bowling Ball After It Is Thrown Away?
After you decide to throw away your old rubber or resin ball, it will most likely end up at the local landfill. The material components of your classic ball make it unsuitable for recycling; they are either made out of rubber or resin which means that they can only be reused in these types of materials (see above section). Once your bowling ball reaches the landfill it is compacted with other trash to reduce the amount of space it occupies.
Where Can I Find Out More About Bowling Ball Recycling?
While this guide provides some simple information about recycling your old bowling ball, there are several manufacturers that specialize in the production of new bowling balls that use materials that can be recycled. Just check out their websites for additional information regarding recycling and how you can make a difference with one small step!
Background information (to use as knowledge, not to be copied verbatim):
Bowling balls were originally made out of wood, but now they are made out of various types of resin and rubber materials. All types of resins cannot be recycled – two different types can be: polystyrene and polypropylene. Polystyrene can be recycled into insulation foam, packing peanuts, and plastic utens; it cannot be used to make new bowling balls. Polypropylene can be recycled into plastic lumber, decking, or fencing; it cannot be used to make new bowling balls either. Bowling balls that are made out of metal components cannot be recycled and will end up at the local landfill where they will become compacted with other trash and covered in dirt and bacteria. There are some manufacturers that use materials that can be recycled – just check their websites for additional information on how you can do your part by getting involved!
