How to Dispose of Guitar
- 1Guitars are composite items coated with polyurethane lacquer and bound with metal frets and plastic trim, completely preventing them from standard wood recycling.
- 2Because they exceed general trash bag sizes, they must be registered as municipal bulky waste (sticker fee ₩2,000–₩4,000 / $2–$4).
- ✓Metal guitar strings cannot be recycled as scrap and must be wound, wrapped securely in newspaper to avoid puncture injuries, and placed into general trash.
How to Dispose (5 Steps)
- 1
Safe String Removal and Puncture-Proof Wrapping: Loosen string tension via tuning pegs, snip with wire cutters, coil metal strings into loops, wrap heavily with newspaper and tape to shield sanitation workers, and discard in general trash.
- 2
Detaching Batteries and Electronic Gear: For acoustic-electric or active electric guitars, remove internal 9V preamp batteries and route them strictly to municipal battery collection boxes.
- 3
Online Bulky Waste Permit Booking: Log onto your local district municipal office website or waste disposal app to select 'Musical Instruments - Guitar' and pay the municipal disposal sticker fee (₩2,000–₩4,000 / $2–$4).
- 4
Affixing Bulky Permit Number: Print the permit sticker or write the authorization code, item name, and pickup date clearly with a marker on an A4 sheet and tape it firmly to the guitar body.
- 5
Sorting Guitar Gig Bags and Hard Cases: Place soft padded fabric gig bags into municipal general trash bags; register rigid molded plastic/wooden flight hard cases as separate bulky items on the municipal portal.
Real-World Examples
Acoustic folk guitar
Electric solid-body guitar
Electric bass guitar
Classical nylon-string guitar
Ukulele
Guitar soft padded gig bag
Guitar amplifier and pedal
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why can't wooden acoustic guitars be discarded with scrap lumber / clean timber recycling?
A. Acoustic bodies and necks are heavily sprayed with polyurethane, polyester, or nitrocellulose lacquers and bound with epoxy glues, plastic purfling, and nickel-silver frets. These industrial chemical coatings emit hazardous toxic fumes when chipped for mulch or MDF recycling. Therefore, municipal wood recycling centers strictly reject guitars, classifying them as municipal bulky waste.
Q. Since electric guitars contain pickups and wiring, can they be discarded as small electronic e-waste?
A. No. Although electric guitars incorporate copper-wound pickups, potentiometers, and jack plates, over 90% of their mass consists of solid painted hardwood. Municipal e-waste recycling initiatives are engineered for motorized home appliances and circuit boards, not solid wood instruments. Electric guitars must be disposed of via bulky waste stickers, though external guitar amps and digital stompboxes qualify for free e-waste bins.
Q. Do small instruments like ukuleles also require a bulky waste sticker?
A. If a compact instrument like a soprano ukulele fits entirely inside a 50L or 75L municipal general trash bag allowing the bag mouth to be tied completely shut, it can legally be discarded in general trash without purchasing a bulky waste sticker.
Q. How should guitar hard cases and padded soft gig bags be disposed of?
A. Fabric gig bags cushioned with polyester foam can simply be folded and discarded inside general trash bags. However, rigid flight cases built from molded ABS plastic, wood laminate, or reinforced fiberglass exceed bag capacities and must be registered online as bulky waste (sticker fee ₩2,000–₩3,000 / $2–$3).