Triple Cam Recycling Programs: How to Responsibly Retire Your Climbing Tricams (Without Trashing the Planet)

Ever stared at a bent, scarred tricam after your 47th desert crack climb and thought, “This thing’s seen more granite than I have—but where does it go now?”

If you’ve ever tossed gear into the “mystery bin” labeled ‘retired,’ you’re not alone. But here’s the hard truth: most climbing tricams—those brilliant, asymmetric cams we trust in flared cracks—are made of hardened steel, aluminum stems, and nylon slings that don’t biodegrade. They sit in landfills for centuries… or worse, leach metals into ecosystems.

That’s why Triple Cam Recycling Programs aren’t just eco-buzz—they’re urgent infrastructure for ethical climbers. In this guide, you’ll discover:

• Why standard recycling fails climbing gear (and what actually works)
• Which brands offer verified take-back schemes
• How to prep your tricams for recycling—without voiding warranties
• Real-world examples of recycled cams becoming new gear

Table of Contents

• Why Tricams Aren’t Recyclable in Your Curb-Side Bin
• Step-by-Step: How to Recycle Your Triple Cams
• 5 Best Practices for Gear Recycling Done Right
• Case Study: How Black Diamond Turned 12,000 Pounds of Gear Into New Cams
• Triple Cam Recycling Programs FAQs

Key Takeaways

• Tricams combine mixed metals and textiles—making them non-recyclable via municipal systems.
• Only manufacturer-run or third-party specialty programs (like ReEarth or GearFix) can process them safely.
• Clean, disassemble, and document damage before sending gear back—it speeds up processing by 68% (ReEarth, 2023).
• Recycled cam components often become bike parts, architectural fixtures, or new climbing hardware.

Why Tricams Aren’t Recyclable in Your Curb-Side Bin

Let’s get brutally honest: tossing your beat-up tricam into the blue bin feels virtuous—but it’s worse than useless. It’s contamination.

Municipal recycling facilities sort materials by type: aluminum cans go here, steel there, plastics elsewhere. But a tricam? It’s a Frankenstein of alloys—typically 7075-T6 aluminum stems, stainless steel heads, dyneema or nylon slings, and sometimes brass rivets. When this hybrid enters a standard stream, it gums up machinery or gets dumped as waste. According to the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), over 89% of “recycled” outdoor gear ends up landfilled due to improper sorting.

I learned this the hard way during my Zion Canyon cleanup in 2021. We collected 37 retired cams—including six tricams—and proudly dropped them at the local Moab recycling center. Two weeks later, I spotted them bagged in a landfill photo tagged #WasteAuditFail. Mortifying. That moment sparked my deep dive into gear-specific recycling.

Step-by-Step: How to Recycle Your Triple Cams

Where do Triple Cam Recycling Programs even exist?

As of 2024, only four verified channels accept tricams:

1. Black Diamond ReCrafted Program: Accepts all BD tricams (even competitor gear since 2022). Ships free via UPS.
2. REI Co-op Reuse-A-Shoe / Gear Renewal: Partners with Nike Grind but now accepts metal climbing gear via select stores.
3. ReEarth Collective: Nonprofit specializing in mixed-material outdoor gear. Charges $5 shipping subsidy.
4. GearFix (EU only): Based in Chamonix; processes tricams into powder for sintered metal parts.

How do I prepare my tricams for recycling?

Don’t just toss them in a box. Follow this:

1. Clean thoroughly: Soak in warm water + mild soap. Scrub grit from pivot points with a toothbrush.
2. Remove slings: Cut away worn slings—they’re processed separately as textile waste.
3. Document damage: Snap photos of bends or fractures. Some programs (like BD) use this for failure analysis.
4. Ship smart: Use original packaging or wrap in reused bubble mailers. No plastic foam!

Optimist You: “This keeps metals in circulation!”
Grumpy You: “Ugh, fine—but only if I can drink coffee while labeling the box.”

5 Best Practices for Gear Recycling Done Right

1. Never assume “take-back” = automatic recycling: Some brands refurbish; ask what % becomes new product.
2. Avoid “eco-washing” brands: If they don’t publish annual impact reports (like BD’s Sustainability Dashboard), be skeptical.
3. Bundle with friends: ReEarth offers discounts for groups shipping 10+ units.
4. Track your batch: Reputable programs provide serial numbers so you can trace your cam’s rebirth.
5. Donate functional gear first: Local climbing gyms or orgs like Access Fund often redistribute lightly used tricams.

TERRIBLE TIP ALERT: “Just melt it down in your backyard forge.” Nope. Aluminum melts at 1,220°F—your BBQ hits 500°F. You’ll release toxic fumes and ruin your Weber. Don’t be that guy.

Rant Time: The “Biodegradable Sling” Lie

Some brands slap “bio-sling” on tricams and call it sustainable. Newsflash: dyneema takes 40+ years to decompose—even in ideal conditions. And when mixed with metal? Zero recyclability. Stop greenwashing my crimps, marketing teams.

Case Study: How Black Diamond Turned 12,000 Pounds of Gear Into New Cams

In 2023, Black Diamond’s ReCrafted program hit a milestone: 12,000 lbs of retired gear processed, including 1,842 tricams. Here’s how it works:

• Tricams are manually disassembled in Salt Lake City.
• Aluminum stems go to a certified smelter in Idaho; melted into billets for new cams.
• Steel heads become counterweights for industrial machinery.
• Textile slings are shredded for carpet underlay (partnering with Aquafil).

The kicker? Recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy than virgin ore (per EPA data). One climber, Maya R., tracked her #BD17822 tricam—it became part of a new Camalot C4 in March 2024. “Knowing my old gear didn’t rot in a ditch? Chef’s kiss,” she told me over campfire coffee in Indian Creek.

Triple Cam Recycling Programs FAQs

Can I recycle tricams from brands like Wild Country or CCH?

Yes—through ReEarth or GearFix (EU). BD’s program accepts non-BD gear since 2022, though priority goes to their own products.

What if my tricam is missing parts?

Still send it! Partial units help metallurgists study fatigue patterns. Just note “incomplete” in your submission form.

Do these programs cost money?

BD and REI offer free shipping labels. ReEarth charges $5 flat fee (waived for OIA members). GearFix is free in EU.

How long does recycling take?

4–12 weeks for disassembly and material sorting. You’ll get an email confirmation when processing starts.

Are recycled cams as strong as new ones?

When re-smelted properly, yes. BD tests all recycled-alloy batches to UIAA standards—same as virgin metal.

Conclusion

Retiring a tricam shouldn’t mean condemning it to a landfill. With verified Triple Cam Recycling Programs, your trusty cam can live its best second life—as a bike frame, a streetlamp bracket, or even another cam saving someone’s bacon in Eldo.

So next time you eye that dinged-up tricam, don’t trash it. Clean it, ship it, and track its journey. Because adventure ethics start with what we leave behind—including our gear.

Like a 2000s Tamagotchi, your climbing conscience needs daily care.

Steel heart, nylon thread— 
granite kissed and battle-scarred, 
now reborn in red.