How can I reuse or recycle large pieces of cork?
We’ve had an email from Tony asking about recycling cork – but NOT wine bottle corks (which we covered back in the day):
I am looking at ways that cork (in slabs not wine bottles unfortunately) can be recycled.
Given his email address, I suspect he’ll be particularly interested in large-scale industrial recycling ideas not crafty reuses for each slab/piece – but we’ve got some thin sheets of cork (a former noticeboard) to reuse too so ideas for both case are welcome.
Anyone know any companies that take large pieces of cork for recycling? Or have any ideas (other than noticeboards) for surplus around the home?
(Stock photo by raichinger)
I would expect that cork would make good insulation if available in slabs. For thin sheets, it would be ideal for putting on the feet of table and chair legs to prevent scratching floors.
Cork is used for flooring
Cork can be used for sound-proofing
Thin veneer cork sheets could be used for lining shelves, or making insoles
Call a local contractor. Cork has a lot of building uses. From flooring, to furniture, to shelving, and insulation. If you have a lot of it you should be able to give/sell it to someone in the construction field.
For smaller amounts, I’d use it for cabinet stops or floor protectors for the bottom of your chair and table legs.
Good luck.
weeel u could use it as a coaster or a napkin holder
Yeah, I’d probably go for insulation. Either full-on building insulation if you really have a lot of it, or smaller-scale e.g. around hot water tanks.
I have shitloads of used cork insulation that I’m trying to find a use for, and all of the suggestions here are ridiculous. Imagine 60 contractor garbage bags filled with what looks like broken concrete–big jagged 4″ thick chunks. Coaster? Probably not. I’m thinking of renting a wood chipper to send it all through, then use the granulated cork as insulation in the crawlspace of my home. I’ll post the results, but really, coaster?
What about making boards for push pins where you can put pictures, memos, what-nots. I like the insulation idea, I heard you can used old clothes and newspaper as insulation as well. Good luck!
A good idea would be to design your own organizer. You could get a metal sheet, glue cork to half of it, chalkboard to the other, frame it, and add little pockets, shelves, magnets, mirrors, hooks, calendars, to do lists, planners, and anything else you can think of to organize.
I will accept and recycle all your natural and synthetic bottle corks and all types of bar glassware or bar items that you no longer want or need. If you wish to get rid of any and all types of glassware or bar items and give it a new home, or to get rid of all your bottle corks, send them to me. For information as to where to send please e-mail me, and I will send you the needed information. Please understand it is at your own expense since I am a non-profit recycler. All glassware and other items will be placed into a show room , and if you’d like your name will be added to the list with the others who have helped to build this great show room and collection. More pieces of glassware & bar items, and corks are being added every day to the collection.
If you have any of your cork left, I would love to have any donation that you could give me.
Seen your post about wanting to get rid of cork I’m looking for good quality slabs approx 2″x2″x10″ or around there or even a little bigger that I can cut to what I need will take any donated