To recycle pots and pans, first check if your local recycling center accepts metal cookware. For nonstick pans or mixed materials, use specialty services like mail-back programs. Donate usable items or upcycle creatively.
Non-teflon cookware can be recycled. Remove any handles etc. Teflon (and other non-stick) sadly is just garbage. Normally in metal recycling the metal is melted. But the teflon will give off toxic fumes which is why they are not processed in the same way.
Yes, a nonstick pan should generally be discarded if it has been left unattended on high heat for an extended period, such as 20 minutes. When nonstick pans are heated to very high temperatures without food, the nonstick coating can begin to break down and release harmful fumes.
If it's non-coated aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel then you can take it to a local metal scrap yard if you have one. If it has a nonstick coating - it's garbage. Throw it in the garbage. Whatever it is though, it cannot just be tossed in the regular recycling with your soda cans.
While most non stick pans last an average of two to three years, pans of a poorer quality may yield fewer uses before the non stick coating wears off. Alternately, higher quality pans may last longer than three years with the right care.
A non stick coating that's peeling, chipped, flaking, or otherwise damaged is a sure sign that your pan should be replaced.
Sign 3: You See Significant Scratches
If you see scratches, that means the nonstick Teflon surface has been compromised and the chemicals could be flaking off into your food. Not good! To be safe, once a pan is scratched it's gotta go.
Put broken pots, frying pans, cookie sheets, baking sheets, water bottles, muffin trays and cutlery in your black cart as garbage. Some private companies may buy scrap metal, charge a fee or accept items for free. Find options at The Yellow Pages under Metal Recycling or contact these local metal recyclers: Recon Metal.
It is safest to replace any nonstick cookware when the coating is damaged, particularly if it was made before 2015, says Whitney Linsenmeyer, PhD, RD, LD, an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at Saint Louis University, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Check your local options for recycling, many places will take pots and pans even with teflon coating as part of regular recycling. If the pans are from a major brand, look them up and see if they take them back for recycling. Take it to a local scrap yard to be recycled with other metals.
The coating needs to be removed before the pan can be recycled. Once you've found a scrap metal recycling near you, call them to ask if they accept Teflon-coated pans.
Mix One Part Vinegar and Two Parts Water
To make this buildup-busting and non-stick-restoring mixture, you'll combine one cup of water and half a cup of white vinegar. That's it!
While most non-stick pans can last up to three years (read the manufacturer's instructions) if used and taken care of properly, poor-quality non-stick pans can start feeling sticky in under 6 months.
If the non-stick (PTFE-coated) cookware is worn out, it should be disposed of in the trash. Non-stick cookware is not recyclable due to the PTFE coating and are not accepted in curbside recycling carts or at the Drop-Off Station or Recovery Yard.
In general, you want to replace nonstick pans after five years. But you need to be particularly careful with nonstick cookware produced before 2015, as it may contain PFOA. If your cookware dates back to 2015 and earlier, it's likely time to replace it even if it doesn't contain PFOAs.
No. While they don't necessarily present a safety concern, you still shouldn't hold onto your scratched nonstick pans. If the scratches are fresh, you may end up with flakes of the coating in your food—which we can all agree is not delicious. It can also impact how effective your pan's nonstick abilities are.
We advise replacing your nonstick pans whenever the coating starts to degrade or is scratched—or about every three to five years.
Chemicals in non-stick coatings
PFAS are found in many consumer products, including packaging, clothing, and cookware. Unfortunately, PFAS is known to accumulate in the environment and has been linked to human health impacts such as abnormal thyroid and hormone function, reduced immune system response, and cancer.
Flaking or peeling: If you see the nonstick surface peeling off or flaking into your food, it's time for a new pan. The coating is breaking down and can end up in your meals.
It is safest to replace any nonstick cookware when the coating is damaged, particularly if it was made before 2015, says Whitney Linsenmeyer, PhD, RD, LD, an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at Saint Louis University, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Discover six toxin-free alternatives to non-stick pans: cast iron, stainless steel, ceramic-coated, carbon steel, enameled cast iron, and glass cookware. Each option offers unique benefits for safe cooking. Tips include using enough oil, practicing seasoning, and utilizing lower heat for best results.