Buzz
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DCLResearch from UCLA has found a connection between Teflon cookware, specifically the perfluorochemicals found in Teflon, and infertility in women. Furthermore, heating Teflon releases harmful gases that can be fatal to birds and cause flu-like symptoms in humans. Scratched nonstick pans pose a significant health risk as well.
As a result, many people are searching for environmentally friendly ways to dispose of their non-stick Teflon cookware. Several cities and counties do not accept non-stick cookware for recycling, but it is possible to recycle Teflon in Ann Arbor. Other cities might allow you to recycle Teflon pans along with regular pans, so be sure to check with your local recycling program before sending your Teflon pans to Ann Arbor.
Currently, there doesn't appear to be a widespread national program for recycling non-stick pans. Finding any substantial information about recycling Teflon cookware has proven to be quite difficult. The only items that seem more challenging to recycle than Teflon are dentures.
The Hunt for the Ultimate Teflon Recycling Solution
From Kelli2006 on Chowhound:
You can find a sandblasting service in the Yellow Pages and ask them to use walnut shell abrasive to remove the remaining Teflon coating. This method will preserve the stainless steel base without damage and should cost under $20.00. I've tried it several times and recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to lose a good pan because the Teflon is flaking off.
Pay attention to the suggestion of using walnut shell abrasive or perhaps glass bead. True sandblasting, using actual sand as the abrasive, would likely cut too aggressively. The goal is to remove only the non-stick coating and ideally leave the underlying metal largely intact.
Once the Teflon is removed, you'll be left with a steel pan that can either be reused or recycled. However, keep in mind that recycling five pans would cost you over $100.
Additional Insights and Research on Teflon Recycling
If you search thoroughly enough for nonstick pan recycling programs, you'll eventually come across links to Fryingpanman.com. This site no longer exists or is currently being renovated. Instead, a link now leads to Continental Companies, a company specializing in "highly specialized applications where coating systems are custom-designed to ensure rapid turnaround times in the industry."
I contacted the company, and they informed me that they only recycle pans for restaurants, which I believe refers to re-coating them rather than actual recycling.
Here's a bit of positive news. If you happen to know a restaurateur, you can repair your Teflon pans.
Similarly, many Teflon pan manufacturers offer a resurfacing service. You can contact the manufacturer of your pan and ask if they’ll accept it for resurfacing.
The closest thing I found to a recycling program is Calphalon Renew. If you purchase nonstick cookware from Calphalon, you can fill the box of your new cookware with your old cookware and Calphalon will recycle it. However, you’ll still end up with Teflon cookware in the end.
Final Thoughts on Teflon Recycling
I didn’t make a huge breakthrough with this post. I didn’t unveil a revolutionary Teflon-recycling solution. My hope is that this information will be valuable for future generations and that we’ll see improvements in recycling programs for Teflon and other hard-to-recycle materials. If you have more knowledge on recycling Teflon in your area, please share it in the comments below.
Have a suggestion or an idea for a post on Planet Green? Feel free to email us at pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
