How to Recycle Instruments Sustainably

As part of our ‘This Is Not A Rehearsal’ campaign, Music Mark commissioned a research project to assess environmental sustainability within UK music services, education hubs and partner organisations. Undertaken by UCL’s Department of Culture, Communication and Media, the report highlighted a range of fantastic work taking place across the music education sector to make sustainable changes. The following case studies from Normaans Musical Instruments and Hounslow Music Service demonstrate some of the different approaches music organisations can take to embed sustainability into their work. 

ReTune: A Sustainable Model for Instrument Recycling in Music Education

ReTune is a not-for-profit recycling initiative from Normans Musical Instruments, designed to support Music Hubs across the UK. The programme offers free collection and assessment of unwanted instruments, aiming to repair, donate, repurpose, or recycle them responsibly. Instruments suitable for reuse are restored and donated to schools or community groups, while others are sold to raise funds for sustainability projects, including carbon literacy training and nature-based initiatives via Earthly.org.

A key feature of ReTune is its commitment to environmental responsibility. In partnership with Willshee’s Waste & Recycling, every item that cannot be reused is processed through a cutting-edge facility with a Zero Landfill Guarantee. Materials such as wood, metals, plastics, and case components are meticulously separated and either recycled or converted into energy via SRF/RDF fuels – eliminating waste and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

ReTune has already diverted thousands of instruments from landfill, making it a UK-first for sustainable instrument disposal within music education, while giving old instruments new purpose in classrooms, communities and even as creative décor.

With thanks to Normans Musical Instruments

Sustainable Instrument Management

Hounslow Music Service (HMS) has developed a comprehensive, environmentally responsible approach to managing its extensive stock of musical instruments. With thousands of instruments in circulation across schools, HMS prioritises repair, reuse, and responsible disposal to reduce waste and extend the life of its resources.

Each year, whole-class brass instruments such as trombones are collected, cleaned, and serviced in-house. Many of these instruments, despite being low-cost models, have remained in use for over 15 years thanks to regular maintenance. Parts and cases are salvaged from irreparable instruments to create hybrids and reserve stocks, reducing the need for new purchases. Staff are equipped with maintenance kits and have had training to carry out minor repairs in schools. More complex repairs are completed centrally by the Deputy Head of Service, who has developed the necessary skills ‘on the job’ to meet all but the most complex challenges. Instruments beyond repair are recycled through a local authority partnership, ensuring ethical disposal.

Mobile servicing is a further key part of HMS’s approach. Each year, staff also visit schools to ensure instruments remain in working order for pupils. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this commitment went even further, with HMS providing a mobile repair service to offer roadside repairs outside pupils’ homes.

A barcode tracking system has been gradually rolled out, with instruments and cases scanned and logged as they return to the central store. This phased approach has allowed for an efficient yet manageable implementation. Barcoding not only enables accurate audits, depreciation tracking, and better resource allocation but has also reduced losses and thus the need to purchase replacements.

HMS also supports pupils in caring for instruments through a series of YouTube tutorials on cleaning, maintenance, and handling. This holistic system ensures instruments are preserved, reused and respected, supporting both environmental goals and equitable access to music education.

With thanks to Hounslow Music Service

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