How can I reuse or recycle old satellite dishes?

satellite_dish250.jpgWe’ve had an email from Brian Garrett asking about recycling satellite dishes:

I’ve got one in the garage (after upgrading to the latest version). My neighbors have some on their roofs that are unused.

What is the best way to recycle an unused satellite dish? These are the smaller DirectTV/Dish network dishes – not the big 6′ dishes.

I suspect the number of old dishes floating around is growing steadily as people (in the UK) are encouraged to flip back and forth between cable and satellite depending on the current offer of the moment.

So any suggestions?

(Photo courtesy of my neighbours across the street who have a satellite dish on the side of their house)

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21 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle old satellite dishes?”


  1. karen says:

    hows about a bird bath? break off that post thingy, fill in the holds with putty, paint a pretty color, attach to a column or big old lamp base or stump or something along those lines?

    i also want to suggest gold panning, but i’ve never gold panned so i have no idea if it would work and really, does anyone gold pan anymore?

    how thick is it? maybe take a bunch and use as stepping stones? that may be pushing it.

  2. relwefactor says:

    use toor as rellector fot sun to heat things…h20,water…food

  3. Harry says:

    I have a big one as an outdoor dunny roof. Line one with reflective foil for a passive solar cooker, potting bench if mouned on 3 legs; party wok!!!; an arrangement to aerate tumbling water

  4. Trish says:

    paint them to make some pretty art

  5. victor says:

    well what you actually have is a parabolic reflector which can be used to amplify any number of signals. i suggest that you simply use it for another product which could use the amplification. one good use would be to place a wireless usb ethernet device at the focal point and amplify your signal several folds. you can use this link to find the focal point:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dish_antenna

  6. Sara says:

    We turned our old satellite dish into a water feature in the yard. It was an older satellite dish that was solid and large, with no holes drilled in it. We just dug a hole and now there is a pond in the back yard! If I were to do it again, I would recommend getting a plastic pond liner, to be able to sink the dish deeper and grow some water plants.

  7. steve says:

    use it as saucer and slide down a snowy hill

  8. wek says:

    We have the large kind which is a mesh material and not solid. I thought about using it as a roof for a gazebo then grow an evergreen vine on it.

  9. Sherry says:

    Sell a couple to me for cheap! I want to make a UFO for my Halloween display. The Halloween display is to raise money for a local school program.

    • Tracey says:

      Sherry – I have two or three in my attic you can have, if you will pay the shipping.

    • martha says:

      you can also have mine for cost of shipping

    • Aubrey Tate says:

      I’d be willing to give you the one we have. Someone put it out for the trash. So I had to pick it up because it could be very dangerous in a landfill. Let me know if you are interested. You would not have to pay anything for it unless shipping is required.

      Thanks,
      Aubrey

  10. Megan says:

    We recycled our dishes with USA based TechnologyRecycler.Net
    http://www.technologyrecycler.net

  11. Aman says:

    Send all these used satellites to me! email me recyclesatellite@hotmail.com or call me 989-545-5978
    I need as many as possible 100’s even 1000’s

    we recycle them properly!!

    call or email for shipping arrangments!!

  12. Call Me Bob says:

    We use our old one for a firepit cover, keeps the pit dry from rain, wind comes up sparks are in control.

  13. Anonymous says:

    I thought abought turning mine into a fountion but it’s very lg and heavy I would like to know what it’s made from if it is steel I could sell it for scrap metal

  14. Lisa says:

    I need an large, old satelite dish like the one posted, I could pay or just remove the junk out of your yard for free. Please call or email. I am located in Leesburg, fl and would be able to pick it up if it is within a couple hours drive. 352-408-4947

  15. debi says:

    How about I just hang my antenna on the unused satellite dish?

  16. Maryjane says:

    I am going to mount my dish on the side of my garden shed (under the porch roof where we have Happy Hour) for a cat perch! I might adhere a piece of carpet for comfort!

  17. In response to the comment dated 3/10/09 we no longer use that domain. We can now be found at http://www.technologyrecyclers.netinfo@technologyrecyclers.net

    Thank You



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