Music World, a well-known music store located in Hazel Dell, has taken steps to reduce its environmental impact by recycling old instrument strings. Matt Gohlke, the co-owner and general manager of the store, became aware of the issue after discovering that an estimated 1.5 million pounds of instrument string metal end up in landfills each year due to local recycling programs not accepting them. In response, Gohlke partnered with TerraCycle and guitar string manufacturer D’Addario to organize string-exchange events at Music World.
The free string exchange event has been held at Music World for the past three years, usually coinciding with Earth Day. During these events, D’Addario provides 40 sets of strings for customers to exchange their old ones, which are then recycled by TerraCycle. Restringing an instrument typically costs $40, but Gohlke emphasized that the event not only benefits the community but also raises awareness about recycling and reducing landfill waste.
While this year’s event has come to a close, Music World continues to accept and recycle old music strings year-round. One loyal customer who took advantage of the promotion was Derek Neiman, who had his guitar restrung at Music World after restringing it himself for over a decade. Neiman praised the shop for always doing a great job.
Photographer Taylor Balkom contributed to this story by capturing images of the event and highlighting its importance in promoting sustainability within the music industry.