{"id":3408,"date":"2026-09-23T12:22:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T04:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.senabodeeschool.com\/blog\/?p=3408"},"modified":"2026-09-23T12:22:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T04:22:02","slug":"can-other-pipe-float-be-recycled-463a-a8a3f8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.senabodeeschool.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/23\/can-other-pipe-float-be-recycled-463a-a8a3f8\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Other Pipe Float be recycled?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey there, thanks for stopping by! If you\u2019ve ever worked in marine construction, aquaculture, or even offshore energy, you\u2019ve definitely crossed paths with Other Pipe Float\u2014those unassuming, often overshadowed floats that keep pipelines, cables, and aquaculture lines afloat. I\u2019m one of the folks who supplies these guys, and over the years, I\u2019ve had way too many customers ask me the same thing: \u201cCan Other Pipe Float even be recycled?\u201d It\u2019s such a common question, and honestly, it\u2019s one I\u2019ve dug into deep because, let\u2019s be real, sustainability isn\u2019t just a buzzword anymore\u2014especially when we\u2019re talking about gear that spends its whole life getting tossed around in saltwater and sun. Other Pipe Float<\/a><\/p>\n

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First off, let\u2019s get on the same page: what actually<\/em> is Other Pipe Float? A lot of people lump all pipe floats into one bucket, but these are the ones that aren\u2019t the big, branded, high-profile ones\u2014usually the mid-range to economy floats, made from different plastic blends, sometimes with metal fittings, and built for specific niche uses. They\u2019re not the flashy showstoppers, but they\u2019re workhorses. I\u2019ve seen them used for everything from fish farm feed lines to temporary pipeline crossings during coastal projects. And because they take a beating\u2014salt, UV rays, rough tides\u2014they don\u2019t last forever. A 5-year-old float that\u2019s been sitting in the sun all day every day isn\u2019t going to look the same as a brand new one, and that wear and tear makes people wonder if recycling is even possible.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s cut to the chase: yes, Other Pipe Float can<\/em> be recycled, but it\u2019s not as straightforward as dropping a water bottle in your curbside bin. And that\u2019s where a lot of confusion comes in. I\u2019ve had customers who tried to toss their old floats at a local recycling center and got turned away, and others who thought they had to send them to a fancy offshore incinerator (which is a whole other can of worms). So what\u2019s the real story here?<\/p>\n

First, the material is the biggest factor. Most Other Pipe Float is made from polyethylene (PE)\u2014specifically high-density PE (HDPE) or low-density PE (LDPE). HDPE is the sturdier stuff, which is why it\u2019s used for floats that take heavy hits, and it\u2019s super recyclable. But here\u2019s the catch: once PE is exposed to saltwater and UV light, it breaks down into something called \u201cphoto-oxidized PE.\u201d It\u2019s still plastic, but its molecular structure is altered, which means it doesn\u2019t melt as cleanly as new PE. That doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s un-recyclable\u2014it just means it needs a specific kind of processing.<\/p>\n

Then there are the add-ons. A lot of Other Pipe Float has metal inserts for attaching lines, straps, or pipelines. Those bits are usually steel or aluminum, and you can\u2019t just toss them in a plastic recycling bin. You have to separate them first. If a recycling center tries to process plastic floats with metal still attached, it can damage the equipment. I\u2019ve learned this the hard way\u2014last year, a customer sent back a pallet of old floats without pulling the metal bolts, and the recycling plant had to shut down a line for two hours to clear the debris. Total mess for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s the actual process that works? From what I\u2019ve worked with and researched, it goes like this: first, you collect the old floats, separate them from any non-plastic parts (metal, rubber gaskets, even leftover rope), and sort them by plastic type. Wait\u2014most Other Pipe Float is PE, but sometimes you\u2019ll get a mix with PVC, which is a whole different ballgame. PVC is harder to recycle, and burning it releases toxic fumes, so you have to keep that separate. Once sorted, the PE is shredded into small flakes, washed to get rid of salt, dirt, and any barnacles that have grown on the float over the years (gross, I know\u2014shredding barnacle-covered plastic is not my favorite part of the job), and then it\u2019s melted down in a controlled environment. Because it\u2019s photo-oxidized, you can\u2019t make new bottles or food-grade plastic out of it, but you can turn it into things like plastic lumber, fence posts, or even new, less critical pipe floats. It\u2019s not closed-loop recycling (making the same product over again), but it\u2019s still recycling\u2014diverting tons of plastic from landfills and oceans.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about the roadblocks. The biggest one is access to the right recycling facilities. Most curbside recycling programs don\u2019t take large, bulky plastic items like pipe floats. They\u2019re too big, and most small centers don\u2019t have the equipment to process them. That\u2019s why a lot of people end up throwing them in the trash, which is basically a death sentence\u2014plastic in landfills can take hundreds of years to break down, and if it makes its way into the ocean, it becomes microplastic, which is terrible for marine life. I\u2019ve seen first-hand what that looks like\u2014floats that\u2019ve been washed up on beaches, covered in seagrass, with little crabs climbing on them, but eventually, they break down into tiny bits that fish eat. It\u2019s not something I want my gear contributing to.<\/p>\n

Another roadblock is cost. Recycling these floats isn\u2019t cheap. You have to pay for collection, transportation, sorting, and processing. For small businesses or individual contractors, that extra cost might not fit into their budget. I get it\u2014when you\u2019re already dealing with the cost of new gear, the last thing you want to do is pay to recycle old stuff. But here\u2019s the thing: if you don\u2019t recycle, you\u2019ll probably end up paying for disposal, and that\u2019s often more expensive anyway. Plus, more and more clients are asking about sustainable practices these days. I\u2019ve had a few big aquaculture companies tell me they\u2019ll only work with suppliers who have a take-back or recycling program for old gear. It\u2019s become a selling point, not just a nice-to-have.<\/p>\n

Wait, but can all<\/em> Other Pipe Float be recycled? Let\u2019s be honest\u2014no. If a float is so beat up that it\u2019s cracked, chipped, or has been sitting in a landfill for 10 years, it might not be worth recycling. Or if it\u2019s made from a mix of plastic that can\u2019t be separated, it\u2019s probably best to dispose of it properly (not just toss it in the woods, please). But most of the time, if the plastic is still intact enough to hold its shape and hasn\u2019t completely crumbled, it\u2019s recyclable. I\u2019ve worked with a couple of facilities that accept used pipe floats, and they can process up to 85% of the material, which is way better than sending it to a landfill.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s something I\u2019ve been testing lately: a take-back program for my customers. It\u2019s still in the early stages, but I offer to pick up old Other Pipe Float orders from clients who buy new ones from me. I work with a local recycling company that specializes in marine plastic, and they handle all the sorting and processing. I charge a small fee for the pick-up, but I waver it if the order is big enough. So far, it\u2019s been a hit. One of my regular clients, a coastal construction company, has cut their waste from pipe floats by 90% since we started this program. They even told me they\u2019ve saved money because the disposal fees they used to pay are way higher than the small pick-up fee I charge. It\u2019s a win-win, right?<\/p>\n

Another thing that\u2019s changed the game is new technology. A few years ago, recycling photo-oxidized PE was really hit or miss. The melted plastic would be brittle and weak, so it was only good for low-stress items. But now, some facilities are adding a small amount of new PE to the mix when they process the old stuff, which makes the final product stronger and more durable. That means the recycled plastic can even be used for new pipe floats\u2014well, not the heavy-duty ones, but definitely the mid-range ones. It\u2019s not 100% closed-loop, but it\u2019s as close as we\u2019ve gotten so far.<\/p>\n

I also want to address the elephant in the room: some people say that recycling plastic isn\u2019t worth it, that it\u2019s better to just switch to other materials. And I get that\u2014there\u2019s a lot of talk about moving away from single-use plastic and switching to metal or wood. But here\u2019s the thing: Other Pipe Float is built to be in saltwater for years. Metal floats corrode, especially in saltwater, which is way worse for the environment than plastic. Wood rots, and you have to treat it with chemicals to make it last. Plastic, even when it\u2019s recycled, is still a better option for longevity. And if we can recycle that plastic instead of making new plastic, that\u2019s a big win for reducing carbon emissions. Making new HDPE uses way more energy than recycling old PE\u2014like, I think it\u2019s something like 70% less energy? Don\u2019t quote me on the exact number, but it\u2019s a ton. So even if it\u2019s not perfect, recycling pipe floats is better than the alternative.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about what you can do if you have old Other Pipe Float that needs to be disposed of. First, check with the supplier you bought from. A lot of suppliers (like me, actually) have take-back programs or partnerships with recycling facilities. Second, don\u2019t just toss them in your regular recycling bin. Call your local waste management company and ask if they have a bulk plastic recycling program. If not, look for specialized marine plastic recycling facilities\u2014most coastal areas have them now. Third, if you\u2019re handy, some people repurpose old pipe floats. I\u2019ve seen them turned into garden planters, buoy markers for personal boats, even outdoor seating. It\u2019s not recycling in the strict sense, but it\u2019s diverting them from the landfill, which counts for something.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing I want you to take away from this: Other Pipe Float isn\u2019t just disposable gear. It\u2019s a product that\u2019s been used to keep projects running, farms afloat, and infrastructure in place, and it doesn\u2019t have to end up as pollution. Can it be recycled? Yes, but it takes a little extra effort\u2014sorting, separating, using the right facilities. It\u2019s not as easy as tossing a soda can in the bin, but that\u2019s because these are bulky, heavy-duty products that have a job to do. As someone who supplies this stuff, I\u2019m not just selling floats\u2014I\u2019m trying to make sure the whole lifecycle of the float is as sustainable as possible.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a contractor, aquaculture farmer, or anyone who uses Other Pipe Float and has old units sitting around taking up space, or if you\u2019re looking for new, more sustainable options for your projects, I\u2019d love to chat. We can work on a take-back plan, figure out how to recycle your old gear, or even talk about new floats made from recycled materials. It\u2019s not just good for the planet\u2014it\u2019s good for your business too, because more and more clients are prioritizing sustainability these days.<\/p>\n

Floating Dock<\/a> At the end of the day, we all have to do our part to cut down on waste, and that includes the gear we use every day. Other Pipe Float doesn\u2019t have to be a blip in the ocean or a pile in a landfill. With a little effort, we can keep those floats working, even after their primary job is done.<\/p>\n

References<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. The Role of Polyethylene Recycling in Marine Waste Reduction, Journal of Sustainable Materials, 2022<\/li>\n
  2. Marine Plastic Recycling: Barriers and Innovations, International Association of Marine Contractors, 2023<\/li>\n
  3. Life Cycle Assessment of Pipe Floats for Coastal Applications, Coastal Engineering Journal, 2021<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Shandong Xincheng Pipe Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Shandong Xincheng Pipe Co., Ltd. is one of the leading other pipe float manufacturers and suppliers in China. We warmly welcome you to buy high quality other pipe float in stock here and get free sample from our factory. Contact us for customized service.
    Address: NO.45,104 GuoDao Road, Economic Development Zone, WeiShan County, JiNing, ShanDong, China
    E-mail: sales@zhongtianplastic.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.sdxcplastic.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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