What Would Be The Best Way To Dispose of a Motorcycle Helmet?

Here is a brief guide explaining how to properly dispose of a motorcycle helmet, because the last thing you want to see is your used helmet in a landfill. It’s important to remember that helmets are made from different materials and chemicals that are harmful to the environment. 

For this reason, they should be disposed of correctly when you no longer need them. You may be disposing of it because it’s old, expired, taken a knock, or simply to replace it with another helmet style.

Here are some ways to dispose of your motorcycle helmet:

1. Recycle Your Bike Helmet

Recycling is ideal if you don’t wnat to throw away your old helmet and don’t want it hanging around in your home. Most motorcycle helmets have polystyrene foam covered with a polycarbonate shell, the latter of which is recyclable. 

While there is no specific program for recycling motorcycle helmets, most recycling centers cannot process helmets due to their different materials and chemicals that are hard to recycle.

You will have to call your local recycling centers in advance and find out if they take such materials. In case they do, the centers will fully dismantle the helmet into separate parts without damaging them to make it easier to dispose of.

2. Donate the Helmet

If you do not wish to throw away your used helmet, you can donate it if it’s still in good condition. You can consider donating your used helmet to the following:

Emergency Services

If you have any emergency services department near you, ask them if they accept helmet donations. These services could be fire, medical, or police departments.

If you donate a new helmet, it could be used by the first responders to keep safe in an emergency. An expired or old helmet may not be ideal for protection, especially for firefighters or medical respondents. It can, however, help train new staff.

In most cases, emergency services will not use donated helmets for protection. However, they may use them in training first responders on how to rescue accident victims who are wearing helmets. Your helmet would help responders learn how to safely remove a helmet without risking further injuries to the patient.

As a courtesy, ensure the chin strap is intact and consider putting new padding inside. You should also make sure the helmet is clean. Getting it clean is a nice gesture since other people will wear it.

Elementary and Art Schools

Teachers out there have several uses for helmets and would appreciate such donations. They mostly use helmets for various fun activities during children’s playtime. The children could pretend they are firefighters, policemen, astronauts, etc.

You should also donate the used helmet to an art school. Teachers will probably be more willing to take in the helmet as it will work as a practicing sculpture for the students. But first, confirm if the school accepts such donations by consulting the school authorities or teachers.

Motorcycle Helmet Aggregation Organizations or Charity

It is best to find a local organization that collects old motorcycle helmets near you and donate your helmet to them. This is usually a great idea when disposing of helmets rapidly outgrown by children. The organization will put them to good use depending on how old they are. 

Some charities accept even old motorcycle helmets, while others only allow helmets in good condition. Do not donate an excessively old helmet or one involved in an accident or collision at any point.

3. Sell the Motorcycle Helmet or Trade It In

You can sell the helmets to your friends who need them or on marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, or social media. Selling a used motorcycle helmet will only be suitable if the helmet has had very little use or is relatively new. Many people may not want to purchase a used helmet for obvious reasons such as not knowing the age or history.

If you decide to trade it in, some motorcycle shops offer discounts on new helmets if you give them your old ones. Some dealers may ask for the original proof of purchase to check the age of the helmet, though this might vary with the dealership.

Before you sell or trade-in your old motorcycle helmet, ensure you clean it first. You can remove the oil stains or wipe off the dirt using rubbing alcohol or soap to make it look better. 

4. Practice Your Painting Skills

Whether you have a passion or a hobby in arts and crafts, you can practice your painting skills on your old bike helmet. Since you will not use your helmet while riding, you don’t have to worry about getting cosmetics on it.

Practicing your painting skills is the perfect place to start when learning how to do bodywork. This can be helpful, especially if you plan to paint your motorcycle tank on your own.

Though bike helmets and gas tanks are different in appearance, they have similar curvatures. Sharpening your painting skills gives you a great idea of how the paintwork will look on your motorcycle tank.

5. Upcycle the Helmet

Upcycling is currently the most sustainable alternative for an expired motorcycle helmet. Here are some ways of reusing your helmet:

Grow Small Plants in Your Old Helmet

You can rework your old helmet into a hanging basket or planter for your garden. Ensure you tightly seal its opening mechanism and the visor so that anything planted inside does not drain out. This is achievable using a fast bonding super glue.

Your old helmet will work pretty amazing due to its ready-made strap. However, you may have to attach a strong chain if you should use it as a hanging basket.

When planting in helmets, drill some drainage holes, line the bottom with small stones, add soil, and plant the seeds. Consider growing seasonal and small plants that won’t need too much sunlight, soil, or water.

Turn It Into a Bowl

Get creative with the helmet’s shell design and turn your used motorcycle helmet into a bowl. You can get several uses out of it, including storing veggies, holding fruits, or using it as a popcorn bowl. As a bowl, you can use your old helmet to hold any dry food that will fit.

To make a bowl from your old bike helmet, bond the visor with the helmet shell using strong glue. After that, remove the lining inside, clean the inside and then apply a new protective lining. You can mount a rope on either side of the helmet to make it easier to carry.

6. Give It to Other Motorcyclists

Putting on helmets is a crucial part of riding motorcycles. It protects the neck, head, and jaws from injury in case you fall off your motorcycle. Without it, you could run into some impactful and life-changing situations.

Some riders still do not put helmets on due to cosmetic reasons or because they are a bit pricey. You could give out your old helmet to a friend, a family, or an acquaintance who does not have one.

Though it could be old, it will be better than riding without one. The riders could be more willing to accept and put it on because it is free.

Wrap Up

If you want to dispose your helmet the right way or as environmental friendly as possible, then this guide will offer you some ideas on how to do that.

For helmets that aren’t old or damaged, you can simply donate them to other motorcyclists, helmet collecting organizations, schools, and your local emergency services centers.

You can also recycle your helmet if you are concerned with keeping the environment clean.

Or you might even turn that lid into some other useful items around your home such as eater basket, plant pot, popcorn bowl, target practice, and so on.