What to Do with Old Bowling Balls? [Dispose Of And Recycle]

Parting with an old bowling ball that has served you well for years may be a bittersweet experience. It's natural for most bowlers to become attached to their equipment. Additionally, discarding a bowling ball that has lost its distinctive juice owing to aging or injury can frequently feel like a bowler's sacrilege.

We have some suggestions for what you can do with your old bowling ball before you go to your neighborhood shop and give it away. You can rescue your bowling ball instead of throwing it away by going to your neighborhood Goodwill or using it as the focal point of some creative DIY projects.

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Can You Recycle Bowling Balls?

Without a doubt, the most often asked question is whether or not bowling balls can be recycled. Sadly, the answer to this question is no: bowling balls cannot be recycled. Therefore, you shouldn't count on your neighborhood recycling facility to take used bowling balls.

The components used to manufacture bowling balls prevent them from being recycled. Three materials are used to make bowling balls: urethane, polyester, and resin.

Because polyester (also known as plastic) is the least expensive material and doesn't react with the oils in the bowling alley, polyester (or plastic) bowling balls are usually designed for novices and kids.

The most costly and durable bowling ball material is resin, best suited for expert bowlers as it has the most significant hook force.

Urethane, which is simpler to maintain than resin but has significantly greater endurance and hook power over plastic, is sandwiched between polyester and resin.

It depends on what your nearest recycling facility accepts, although recycling centers rarely take these three materials. Verify whether the recycling facility can decompose compounds such as urethane and resin.

The bowling ball's core is another factor that prevents recycling. Typically, bowling ball cores are made of bismuth graphite or another heavy material mixed with the resin to create a weighty core. This cannot be sliced in half, much less effectively recycled.

Urethane, which is simpler to maintain than resin but has significantly greater endurance and hook power over plastic, is sandwiched between polyester and resin.

The bowling ball's core is another factor that prevents recycling. Typically, bowling ball cores are made of bismuth graphite or another heavy material mixed with the resin to create an incredibly heavy core. This cannot be sliced in half, much less effectively recycled.

Ways Bowling Balls Can Be Reused

A bowling ball can still be used creatively even though it is not recyclable in a typical recycling facility. It would help if you searched for ways to reuse and recycle old bowling balls instead, as recycling is defined as using something again.

Donate It to a Thrift Store (Or Youth Project)

Donating bowling balls to a nearby kid's program is one of the best methods to reuse them. Youth programs aim to get youngsters out of their homes and into the community. Almost all of these groups welcome donations of sporting goods.

You never know; a young bowler in a program might benefit from using an old bowling ball for training. Youth programs can utilize their training facilities for practice with some bowling pins, even if they won't have their bowling alleys.

If you plan to give a bowling ball to a youngster, bear in mind that kids and novices are better off using polyester or plastic bowling balls. This is because polyester is suitable for almost every flat surface, especially the floor of a neighborhood youth center, and does not react when exposed to oils found in bowling alleys.

If your neighborhood youth center isn't interested in receiving your bowling ball, consider giving it to a thrift store. After all, you can find nearly anything in a secondhand store, so chances are good that someone will take it. This implies you won't receive any money back, but at least you'll know the bowling ball will find love elsewhere.

Turn Your Bowling Ball into a Piece of Art

If you have an artistic eye, anything can be transformed into art. It's affordable to indulge your creative side and create a one-of-a-kind coffee table centerpiece or a floral arrangement for your dining room table or windowsill. You have a fascinating candle holder if you insert some candles into the holes!

This is the ideal time of year to engage your children in creative activities. You may make this an enjoyable afternoon project where they decorate the bowling ball with their patterns, such as painting it to resemble a globe or coating it with rhinestones.

You could even paint the entire solar system if you have a lot of bowling balls or just a single bowling ball and plenty of other sports balls (such as a soccer ball, tennis ball, or even golf ball). Once you coat the balls in various paint colors to resemble planets, you will have a fantastic installation piece for your living room or child's bedroom!

One thing that all former bowlers have in common is that they use their bowling balls as garden ornaments. This might be anything from using it as a water feature to making it into a flower pot. If you have a space in your garden that needs to be filled in, you may also paint it gray to make it look like a rock.

An old bowling ball can be used for many projects; the only need is to be ready to put in a little elbow grease when opening it. Additionally, recycling a bowling ball and displaying it on your house or lawn is a beautiful tribute to your love of bowling!

Asking local artists whether they can accomplish anything with your bowling ball is another option if you are different from the artistic type but would want to see it used differently.

Turn It into a Decoration

Get your paint out and transform your bowling ball into a unique Christmas decoration if a holiday is approaching! You can use your creativity to create something new with an old bowling ball; this is the most amusing method.

For Halloween, you could, for instance, paint it into a perpetual Jack-o'-lantern. Alternatively, turn it into a giant candy apple and insert a wooden stick through one of its holes. It can also be painted to resemble a big Easter egg or a Christmas bauble!

Gift It to a Bowling Alley or Pro Shop

It never hurts to inquire if your neighborhood bowling alley accepts donations! They might gladly take your bowling ball from you if it is in good shape. Most bowling alleys are constantly searching for new in-house bowling balls created from various materials to accommodate players of all skill levels.

If you were once an avid bowler or have outgrown your plastic ball, giving it to an indoor bowling alley is a great way to support the sport and advance your skills.

The bowling alley usually will only take your damaged or fractured bowling ball if they know how to replace it. Remember this since you might have to send it off so it can be repaired.

Refurbish It

A thorough cleaning and repair will occasionally restore your antique bowling ball to its original state! If your bowling ball is in extremely rough shape, you ought to be able to locate a local expert who can repair it; it might take some time to look around. If you are still looking for a guy, a local bowling alley should be able to recommend someone.

Alternatively, you may do it yourself if you think the bowling ball can be done without much work! Even so, given the state of the ball, you ought to consult a bowling alley for advice. The least expensive approach to revive it is to refurbish it yourself.

Purchase a brand-new bowling ball if all you want is for it to be reconditioned after years of use. Expert bowlers should be especially aware of this, as the original ball may no longer function as it once did. Purchase a brand-new bowling ball if all you want is for it to be reconditioned after years of use. Expert bowlers should be especially aware of this, as the original ball may no longer function as it once did.

Make It into a Game

A bowling ball can be used without needing to be restored. After years of abuse and use, it will no longer function as well as it once did, but there are still methods to make the ball into entertainment.

Making a backyard game out of an old bowling ball allows you to be as inventive as you want. Kids should be encouraged to play with it if you have any! The winner is the ball that comes the closest after it is placed in the center of the garden, and more petite balls are attempted to be thrown nearby. Whoever can toss the bowling ball far enough will win?

Just confirm that using the ball alone is safe. Cuts and scratches may result from the ball's huge fissures or deadly dents. Additionally, when tiny children are playing with a bowling ball, please stay in the backyard since the weight of the ball may be too much for them to handle.

Donate To a Zoo

Though this may appear like an unconventional method of repurposing a bowling ball, animal shelters, and zoos typically appreciate sporadic donations from the general public! Bowling balls are among the everyday items zoos are known to transform into enrichment activities for their animals.

For instance, food can be placed within bowling ball holes to attract animals with long tongues, such as anteaters and echidnas. Strong creatures like lions or rhinos can even be entertained with a game of bowling balls.

Your contribution of a bowling ball might only be accepted by a zoo or animal sanctuary if the ball is in acceptable shape. After all, animals may be harmed by a cracked or shattered bowling ball.

Use for Pets

Pets can benefit significantly from bowling balls in the same manner as zoo animals can benefit from them as enrichment toys! For worried dogs, stuffing food and treats into the deep holes of a bowling ball can be a terrific diversion. It can also entice other pets to play for the food.

Of course, due to its weight, bowling balls can be dangerous for little dogs. If you want to stop the ball from rolling over sensitive paws, you can secure it to a wall (only ensure it is strong enough).

Sadly, most animals, even big, heavy dogs, shouldn't play with a bowling ball. The ball alone is typically too heavy and can cause paw and toe breaks, which require quite some time to mend. You should avoid letting your pets play with bowling balls for their safety.

Use as a Spare Ball

You don't have to throw away your old bowling ball immediately because you have upgraded to one with better hook power and strike aim! You can use your old ball for training as a backup if you do not want to risk your new ball getting damaged by the lubricants. You must predict when the lane conditions will be good.

It is inevitable that after several uses, lanes will lose their slickness. You can still train with your old ball, so save your efforts attempting to use your new one on a subpar lane! Many players will bring their primary spare, strike, and extra ball to a lane.

Sell Online

Depending on your ability level, a new bowling ball can cost anywhere from $40 to over $100, making it not the most costly sporting equipment. However, purchasing used sporting goods is their only choice if they are on a tight budget.

Therefore, consider selling your used bowling ball online to make a difference in someone else's life by getting a better price! Craigslist and eBay have many random finds, and there's a good chance someone is seeking a bowling ball. It's a win-win situation because you also get some money back in return!

You could post the bowling ball on a nearby Facebook page if it appears damaged enough to sell for a decent price. It is well known that Facebook Marketplace is a refuge for oddball items, so you may need to find out who might be searching for a worn-out bowling ball.

Turn It into Gym Equipment

You might be surprised to see how adaptable bowling balls can be. Put your old bowling ball in your home gym if you use it for something other than bowling.

Bowling balls are a great alternative to weights because they are large, robust balls that may weigh anywhere from six to sixteen pounds. Hence, you may work your arms effectively with a bowling ball even if you don't have a home gym with dumbbells.

They can even be an elevated place to balance when performing push-ups; watch out that they do not wobble too much to avoid spraining your wrist.

Throw It Away, But Do It Safely

Though it may not be the wisest thing to do, discarding your ball is an option that should be taken into account. Suppose you are performing some summer cleaning and suddenly run out of alternatives. In that case, you can throw your ball in the garbage as long as it does not weigh more than a certain amount or contain any dangerous elements that could endanger the health and safety of local sanitation workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where Do Old Bowling Balls End Up?

You can find old bowling balls wherever! Bowling balls are frequently donated to charitable organizations, youth initiatives, and even restored bowling lanes because they are challenging to recycle or throw away in the trash.

Some folks with antique bowling balls will occasionally use them as home decorations. After all, it is simpler to reuse and repurpose bowling balls than to recycle and discard them.

Q. How Do You Break Open A Bowling Ball?

You only need a standard hammer and chisel to crack open a bowling ball. No special tools are required! Just be patient and work the chisel carefully around the ball. Though it takes some time, it will successfully open it up.

Final Thoughts

Old bowling balls can also be sold, donated, reused, repaired, or upcycled, among other alternatives. Giving the ball to neighborhood children's leagues, thrift shops, or bowling alleys is a fantastic way to encourage sports participation and lower entrance barriers. Unfortunately, because of the mixture of materials used in their construction, bowling balls cannot be recycled using traditional methods. But upcycling offers inventive fixes, like fixing it or turning it into a new game or piece of art. Reusing your old bowling ball will help with sustainability initiatives as well.