How to Recycle Old Yoga Mats

So, you just bought a new yoga mat. It’s clean, fresh, smooth, and practically begging you to use it. You roll it out on the floor and start into a familiar flow. You are in awe at the grip and newness of the mat, and you’re enjoying yoga more than ever before. Everything is perfect. Then, you look up and see your old mat rolled up in the corner of the room. What on earth are you going to do with that thing? You reminisce on all the adventures you had together: trying hot yoga for the first time, bringing it on your beach vacation, that one time you thought it would be a good idea to teach your dog the downward dog. Despite the history between you and the old mat, you decide it needs to go. You don’t want to just throw it in the dumpster, though. It would take years to biodegrade, and you just bought the cutest “save the earth” water bottle. You decide that you should repurpose and recycle the mat.

How, though? What can you do with an old yoga mat? Well, we’re here to help. We’ve come up with some unique and fun ways to repurpose your mat into something new and exciting.

Use as cushioning for a homemade bulletin board:

Bulletin boards are easy to make and practical to use. Simply cut your yoga mat to the desired size and superglue it to the back of a frame. The cushy material of the mat is perfect for holding push pins in place, and you can even spray paint the frame or mat any color to match your room design. Hang it in your kitchen or bedroom to pin pictures and notes to for a cool and convenient decoration.

Cut into squares for sports bases:

If you have children or grandchildren, use your old mat to turn your backyard into a sports field. All you need is a pair of scissors and a ruler. Cut your mat into four pieces to use as bases for backyard T ball or kickball games. Yoga mats are durable and easy to clean, so they can withstand any running, sliding, and diving during the game. They are also lightweight, so they can be taken anywhere. Your kids can take the bases on trips for easy entertainment or bring them to the end of the cul-de-sac for neighborhood playoffs. Wherever your yoga mat bases go, they’re guaranteed to provide excitement and laughter with every home run.

Place in drawers for a non-slip liner:

Are you sick of your belongings sliding around in your desk drawer? Do you reorganize your drawers over and over again just to have everything scrambled with one harsh push? Your old yoga mat could be a solution to your problem. Yoga mats make great drawer liners because of their non-slip material. Cut your mat to the size of your drawer and place it on the bottom for better grip. With yoga mat materiel on the surface of your drawer, your belongings will stay organized and in place, making it easy to find everything right when you need it.

Make your own jar openers:

Nothing is more frustrating than a jar that you can’t open. When all you want is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but you aren’t able open the jelly. Instead of settling for peanut butter bread or switching to ham and cheese, just use your handy dandy jar opener. “What jar opener?” you may ask. Well, the one you’re about to make with your old yoga mat of course! Yoga mats are known for their grip, making them the perfect material to help you open that stubborn jar of jelly. Cut a couple small, 5” squares or circles out of your mat and keep them in your kitchen for times of crisis. With these jar openers available, you’ll always be able to open even your toughest jars.

Donate!

Even if you don’t feel like repurposing your mat for your own use, you should avoid throwing it away. Instead of sending it off to the dump, donate it to homeless shelters. Many homeless shelters take used yoga mats and use them as padding so their residents can sleep better and be more comfortable. Donations to shelters are easy to make and will definitely be appreciated