Repurposed Waders

ANNOUNCEMENT: Repurposed Waders is Officially a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit

From the banks of our favorite Maine rivers to the growing support of the fly fishing community, there’s been a lot of buzz over the past twelve months surrounding our newest endeavor—Repurposed Waders. What began as a passion project tied to our deep-rooted values at Maine Fly Company has grown into something with the power to create real, lasting environmental change.

Today, we are thrilled to officially announce that Repurposed Waders is now a recognized 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. This was no small feat. In a landscape packed with national fly fishing nonprofits—each with their own set of agendas and bureaucratic hurdles—we decided to forge our own path. We built something that reflects our mission directly, without dilution, and with our rivers and community at the very center. We didn’t want to simply align with someone else’s vision. We created a nonprofit that is the vision.

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What to do with those old leaky waders you replaced?

After discovering a few pairs of old waders being thrown out riverside here outside our shop, its didn't take long before we realized there must be a better way. 

Why repurpose waders?

Vulcanized rubber, modern PVC, neoprene and Gore-Tex variants are what the greater majority of waders are made of.  When a pair of waders are thrown out, they will stand in our landfills fills for decades at best! It is estimated that more than 3 million pairs of waders are purchased annually by anglers. The average lifespan of waders is 3–5-years. Up to one million pairs find there way into landfills annually.

• PVC is not considered to be a sustainable material. It is non-biodegradable, meaning it will remain in the environment for a very long time. It can also be difficult to recycle, as it is made from a combination of plastics and chemicals.
• Neoprene can take over 100 years to decompose in a landfill. Like most petrochemical-derived fabrics, neoprene has a significantly negative impact on the environment. It's not biodegradable.
• Gore-Tex is so durable that it won't biodegrade for centuries.

We hope you'll consider recycling your old waders with us

The rivers will thank you later!

Drop off or mail waders to: 

Maine Fly Co
81 Bridge St
Yarmouth, ME 04096

(coming soon...repurposedwaders.com)