Don't Throw Away That Old Collar! A Look at 2026’s Pet Product Recycling Programs

Open almost any pet parent’s drawer and you’ll find it: an old collar with a cracked buckle, a leash that’s frayed near the handle, or a harness your dog outgrew two seasons ago. Most of us toss these items without thinking—because what else are you supposed to do with mixed materials like webbing, foam padding, metal D-rings, and plastic hardware?

But 2026 is shaping up to be the year “trash” becomes a return route.

Across the pet industry, recycling is moving from niche mail-in programs to more convenient, retail-based takeback systems—the kind you can use on a regular shopping trip. At the same time, broader packaging rules and producer responsibility frameworks are pushing brands to prove they have credible end-of-life solutions, especially for hard-to-recycle materials like flexible plastics.

So what does that mean for pet products—especially everyday gear like collars and leashes? Let’s break down the recycling program models you’ll see scaling into 2026, plus simple steps pet parents and brands can take right now.

Why Collars and Leashes Are So Often "Unrecyclable" at Home

Most curbside recycling systems are designed for clean, single-material streams. Pet gear is the opposite: it’s built for strength and safety, not disassembly.

Common barriers include:

• Mixed-material construction (nylon or polyester webbing + plastic buckles + metal rings + stitching + padding)

• Small parts that can fall through sorting systems

• Wear and contamination (dirt, moisture, odor), which can reduce recyclability

That’s why the most realistic solutions are the ones that change the collection point (bring-back programs) or control the material stream (closed-loop manufacturing).

2026's Big Shift: Recycling That Happens Where People Already Shop

The reason 2026 matters isn’t that pet parents suddenly became recyclers. It’s that the industry is building systems that reduce friction:

• Retailers are testing and scaling return-to-store collection for hard-to-recycle materials.

• Brands are pairing sustainability with incentives—discounts, points, and donations—that drive participation.

• Policy momentum is raising expectations for producer responsibility and proof of impact.

The result: programs that feel less like a “project” and more like a habit.

The 4 Recycling Program Models You'll See Scale Into 2026

1 Retail Trade-In Events for Worn Gear (Collars, Leashes, Harnesses)

This model works because it solves two problems at once: safety upgrades and waste reduction. Customers bring in an old collar, leash, or harness and receive a discount on a replacement, with the returned gear collected for recycling through a partner program.

Why this model is growing:

• It’s simple (one trip, one counter, one decision)

• It ties recycling to a high-conversion moment (buying new gear)

• It creates a seasonal retail “story” (spring refresh, safety check, travel season)

2026 expectation: more chains and regional retailers replicate the playbook—especially around peak seasons—because it’s both a sustainability move and a sales driver.

2 Return-to-Retail Bins for Hard-to-Recycle Packaging (Food & Treat Bags)

Flexible pet food and treat bags are notoriously difficult to recycle through curbside systems. Many are multi-layer structures designed for freshness and durability, but those same properties make them hard to process in standard recycling streams.

That’s why retail collection is one of the fastest-moving solution categories. Instead of asking consumers to sort complex materials at home, drop-off programs allow collection at the store and consolidate volume for specialized processing.

Why this matters for 2026: once consumers learn “drop it off where you buy it,” participation rises—because convenience beats intention.

3 Closed-Loop Takeback (Products Remade Into Products)

Closed-loop is the gold standard because it’s designed for circularity from the beginning. In this model, a brand takes back a product made from a controlled material, processes it, and uses it as feedstock for new products.

Why closed-loop is powerful:

• It avoids the complexity of mixed waste streams

• It creates a strong, provable story: “this became that”

• It can be engineered for repeat processing when the material design supports it

2026 expectation: more premium brands will lean into closed-loop or near-closed-loop systems as a differentiator—especially for products where material control is feasible.

4 Brand-Sponsored Mail-In Recycling (Still Relevant, But Higher Friction)

Mail-in programs remain important where retail drop-off doesn’t exist, but they demand more effort: packaging, printing labels, and shipping. Participation tends to be higher among highly engaged customers, and programs often perform best when paired with rewards.

Mail-in is often best used as:

• A bridge solution in regions without return-to-retail access

• A brand loyalty tool for highly engaged customers

• A way to handle specialty materials not accepted elsewhere

2026 expectation: mail-in won't disappear—but brands will increasingly pair it with retail options or incentives so participation doesn't rely on "super-fans only."

A Practical Checklist for Pet Parents 

Before you toss old gear, do this:

1. Safety check: if the buckle is cracked, webbing is frayed, or stitching is compromised—replace it.

2. Clean and dry: shake off dirt; let it dry to reduce contamination.

3. Choose your path: trade-in event, in-store collection bin, or mail-in program—depending on what exists in your area.

4. Bring it on your next shopping trip: the easiest recycling is the one you’ll actually do.

What Brands Should Do in 2026 (The B2B Playbook)

If you’re a brand, manufacturer, or retailer, 2026 is less about a one-off campaign and more about building a system customers can repeat.

1 Design for disassembly (even if you can't go mono-material overnight)

• Standardize hardware sizes

• Make high-wear parts replaceable

• Reduce permanent bonding where possible

2 Build the collection pathway first, then tell the story

Consumers don't trust sustainability claims until they see a real action route. Retail collection programs work because they make the pathway obvious.

3 Incentives aren't "nice to have"—they're participation engines

Discounts and rewards turn recycling into an immediate decision, not a future intention.

4 Measure what you collect (and be honest about what happens next)

Track what's collected, contamination rates, and realistic end destinations. Transparency beats perfection.

Conclusion: In 2026, "Old Collar" Becomes a Return Signal

Pet product recycling is entering a more practical phase: drop-off where you shop, trade-in where you upgrade, and closed-loop where materials are controlled. The brands that win in 2026 won’t be the ones with the biggest sustainability slogans—they’ll be the ones that make the end-of-life step effortless for customers.

So before you throw away that old collar: check for a takeback route. If you can return it, you’re not just cleaning a drawer—you’re helping shape the next generation of pet products.