D'Addario Free Recycling Program
All brands accepted
Recycle all brands and types of instrument strings and clippings, including electric guitar and bass, acoustic guitar, nylon, and orchestral strings
Instrument strings
Instrument strings
Drop off at a location near you
Use the interactive map below to search for TerraCycle public locations where you can drop off your recycling. It's free, and you won't need a TerraCycle account or shipping label.
How to become a public drop-off point
IMPORTANT! Please make sure your shipments weigh between 50 and 70 pounds to minimize the transportation carbon footprint of the program.
Larger, less frequent shipments = even bigger wins for the planet!
Getting started as a string recycling center is easy! Simply create a TerraCycle account then click the "Join as a Drop-Off Point" button below to request to join this program. Once you are confirmed, your location will show up on the drop-off map. Send full boxes of trash to TerraCycle at no cost to you. Enrollment limits apply. If the program is full, you will be added to a waitlist.
Please note this program is intended for music shops and instrument supply retailers who would like to be on the public-facing map of drop-off points for this program.
Want to collect for the community but don't want to be added to our map? Please request to join this program and reach out to Customer Care to request that your location not be added to to the map.
If you are an individual recycler, please visit the program page for consumers to search for recycling drop-off locations near you.
Get started
Participating in this program is easy and FREE! See answers to frequently-asked questions here.
Enrollment limits apply. If the program is full, you will be added to a waitlist.
It’s quite simple to set up and manage a drop-off point, and you can recruit a group of friends to help!
Set Up:
- Choose a location and receive permission if needed.
- Update a new or existing TerraCycle account profile with details about your drop-off location.
- Request to join the programs you would like to participate in.
- Once you’ve been approved for the programs you requested, set up your drop-off location.
Manage:
- Oversee the location (check it is being used properly, that waste is being shipped when collection boxes are filled).
- When boxes are filled, seal them, download and affix the prepaid labels, and drop off the boxes at a UPS location.
- Continue to join programs of your choosing.
Promote: Spread awareness about your location (as you see fit) to encourage participation.
There are no direct costs to you for running a public drop-off point. Many collectors spend nothing other than their time. You may choose to purchase specific boxes or bins for your drop-off location, but you can also just use extra boxes you have at home.
The program is designed to accommodate collections from retail stores, education institutions, instrument manufacturers and repair facilities, performing artists and tours, etc. Public spaces that have good traffic flow and are easily accessible are excellent drop-off points.
You choose which TerraCycle free recycling programs your drop-off point will participate in. Collectors can drop off only the waste accepted in those TerraCycle programs.
Discover our recycling process
Once collected, the metal and nylon strings are cleaned and separated by material type. The materials are recycled into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products. Click here to take a virtual tour of our processing facilities.
Learn more about D'Addario
D'Addario prides itself on promoting the three E's of sustainability - Economic Development, Environmental Health and Social Equity - in all aspects of the company.