What yoga mats can be recycled and upcycled?
Whether yours is plastic, jute, PVC, natural rubber, latex or whatever – we recycle them all! No matter what your yoga mat is made from, we can make it into something else.
Do I need to wash my mat before I recycle it?
Just like glass, paper and plastic recycling, yoga mats should be cleaned prior to recycling. We suggest using these cleaning methods from Yoga Journal:
“If your mat is lightly soiled, spray a solution of 2 cups water and 4 drops dish soap on a clean cloth. Rub the soiled mat areas. Wipe the mat with clean water, wipe dry with clean towel, then hang to dry.
If your mat is heavily soiled, submerge it in a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Thoroughly hand wash the mat and rinse in clean water. After squeezing out the excess water, lay the mat on a dry towel and roll the mat and towel together. Stepping on the rolled up mat will squeeze more moisture out of the mat and into the towel. Then unroll and hang to air dry.”
Why is there a fee for recycling my mat?
Much like a non-profit, Recycle Your Mat provides a public service. We believe in waste diversion and planetary health, but simply cannot afford to cover shipping costs. Recycling your mat at (y)our studio OmBase:
1) Saves you money – paying a mat recycling fee at a studio is three to five times cheaper than sending an individual mat to Recycle Your Mat directly.
2) Saves resources – grouping mats for shipment saves valuable resources by bundle shipping, instead of sending one mat at a time.
3) Saves packaging – grouped mats in boxes take less material to ship than individually wrapped mats.
What does Recycle Your Mat do with my mat?
Recycle, upcycle and donation. In 2008 and 2009 we worked with small US businesses to turn mats into other products and to support each other as we work to grow sustainable businesses. Each year more than 30% of mats collected are donated to community programs.
I have more questions, who should I contact?
For more information please visit www.recycleyourmat.com or call (541) 556 – 9191.
Recycle Your Mat: The backstory
Stephanie Stano
Yoga practitioner and Recycle Your Mat founder Stephanie Stano has been passionate about nature and social issues since her youth. Always active in the outdoors, no matter the weather or location, Stephanie knew at a young age that nature nurtures the potential inside us all.
During her career she’s focused on working for non-profit organizations, outdoor lifestyle companies and volunteering her time to social causes. It’s this passion for the outdoors and personal development that are the foundation of Recycle Your Mat.
Since Recycle Your Mat‘s beginning in early 2008, the business has been centered around two main objectives – recycle and upcycle mats as new products and reuse mats through donation. These objectives are met through yoga mat collection at yoga studios, fitness centers and through individual’s shipments of yoga mats.
Recycle Your Mat believes yoga is sacred, and yogis can honor our practice by collectively furthering our responsibility to the planet. Just like yoga restores our body, soul and mind, the materials that support our practice can save mountains, streams and other biodynamic places.
Recycle Your Mat adheres to the triple bottom line by striving for planetary, community and financial health. The people of Recycle Your Mat, as individuals and together as an organization, seek to solve environmental challenges in a socially responsible manner.
Recycle Your Mat
4777 Larkwood Street
Eugene, OR 97405
(541) 556 – 9191
email: info@recycleyourmat.com
Twitter: RecycleYourMat
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