Sustainability: repurpose, recycle and repair in NSW

There’s been a recent welcome emphasis on recycling and repurposing climbing ropes and gear and repairing clothing and packs. Here’s some links for NSW businesses that can help minimise landfill. If we haven’t mentioned your business please let us know and can add it to our resource. 

 

1. Climbing ropes, harnesses, dogbones and slings

 

It’s advised that even with minimal use, gear constructed of polyamide (nylon) be retired from climbing at around 7 years. With very frequent use, some gear won’t last a year. All gear should be inspected frequently to assess for signs of wear and retired if there is evidence of damage. Slings and draws left hanging can weaken substantially with UV exposure and rubbing.  Always be very wary of any fixed rope, and preferably take your own for access purposes.

 

Rope : This article gives examples of what to look for when assessing rope wear. 

Harnesses: ClimbingAnchors has comprehensive advice about time to replace your harness 

 

Recycle:

Some companies such as Millet and Sterling will take back old climbing ropes for recycling, but unfortunately this service is not available in Australia. RMIT is currently doing research into recycling ropes. 

Re-purpose: 

You can make your own door mat or dog lead (see links below), but for some professional re-purposing in NSW the clumsy penguinau, with drop off points in the Blue mountains and Sydney’s north shore, is happy to receive old rope. This company has offered some merchandise to give away later this year in our annual member prize draw.

 

Safercliffs NSW is also able to receive donations of static rope that will be used to help replace cliff access ropes where they already exist with collection in Blue Mountains possible. 

 

A discussion of interstate repurposing was published in the Vertical Life #53 issue (summer 2025), highlighting opportunities in Queensland 

 

The Climbing Anchors shop at Alexandria, or the warehouse at Regents Park in Sydney will also accept old climbing rope, quickdraws and carabiners. They use this material for animal enrichment programmes but also provide it to some repurposing companies. 

 

DIY

Here's some links

- a Californian company with plenty of ideas if you want to try it yourself

- how to make a door mat

https://www.climbfit.com.au/make-your-own-climbing-rope-mat/

https://www.paddypallin.com.au/blog/how-to-make-a-rope-mat/

 

2. Shoes and clothing

Treadlightly - can recycle shoes, collection points can be found here: Collection Locations – Tread Lightly

Upparel - Can be used for clothing UPPAREL | Leading the Change for the Next Generation, they also have drop off points Clothing Drop-Off Locations | UPPAREL

Offtrack -have the 2nd Life project where they rehome, recycle and remake outdoor gear, tents, backpacks, and I believe they also take shoes. 

 

Repair: 

Cams and hexes can be reslung. Chris Wallace, intermittently provides this service through his company WallAce based in NSW, but at present the service is not available.

 

Aspiring Safety in Christchurch, NZ provides an excellent service. Just make sure the goods are marked as used, so customs don’t slug you. 

For trigger wires on cams, these can be done yourself with a reswaging tool if you have one. Deano in Launceston will do them for $15/side 0408052482

 

For repair of packs and clothing

the long established Venus repair shop does an excellent job in Bathurst St, Sydney

 

Sandy at Seamsrightsewing can do clothing and pack repairs, based in Lithgow (search on Facebook)

 

Further afield, Remote repairs in Victoria offer outdoor gear repair