Reuse, replay, or recycle your old acoustic piano

It’s one thing to cull outgrown or unused clothes from your closet, but what do you do with a piano that’s outlived its usefulness in your home? Pianocycle is a Public Benefit Corporation in southeast Minneapolis that finds new homes for acoustic pianos in the Twin Cities area, or a second life as art materials if the pianos are no longer playable.
Their mission, according to owner Zero One, is to extend the life of acoustic pianos whenever possible, and to reduce waste through reusing and recycling piano parts.
One has been tinkering with pianos for as long as he can remember. He grew up taking lessons, and by age 18 was selling used pianos out of his parents’ garage. He went on to found the non-profit Keys 4/4 Kids, and served as the executive director until 2017. As the years went by, he felt the need for recycling pianos was growing more urgent.

Rest in peace
Acoustic pianos are big and heavy, weighing anywhere from 500-1,200 pounds. Their parts are many: hardwood, metal, wire strings, and keys made of various materials.
All pianos are brought back to Pianocycle’s workshop before their future is decided. If a piano isn’t playable or the cost to repair is too high, team members dismantle it into its component parts.
One said, “Pianos often have high sentimental value. Even if your family piano can’t be played anymore, we ensure that it still leaves a legacy. Usable wood is donated to local artists and hobbyists for creative projects, and we recycle the metal responsibly. Most of the weight of a piano comes from the metal harp, as it’s called, which holds the strings in place. It’s a high priority to keep these out of landfills and incinerators, due to their size and weight.”
Pianocycle gives away the upcycled wood sourced from retired pianos free of charge. Check their website for open houses or Facebook Marketplace for availability. The wood may have sharp splinters or leftover screws. Always use protective gloves, eyewear, and appropriate tools when working with this material.
In addition, Pianocycle often gives away free piano benches, piano lights, and music.

New homes for working pianos
Pianos in good working order are available through Pianocycle’s online inventory at www.pianocycle.com. There is no cost to receive a piano, other than the $88 fee to deliver it to the main floor of a home or apartment in the Twin Cities metro area. Additional charges for stairs or distances greater than 20 miles outside the metro area will apply.
There is a cost to have a piano removed from your home, starting at $299.
One said, “We delivered a piano to a young couple recently. The husband had played when he was younger, but it had been awhile. They were dumbfounded to receive a free piano and, like most people, wondered if there was a catch. There was not, and there never is.”
Pianocycle stands behind their pianos with a 30-day warranty. Pianos are inspected before going to their new homes but if an issue develops, you can exchange it for another or return for a full refund during that time period.
One and his team are looking into replicating Pianocycle in other U.S. cities. This combination of re-homing and recycling isn’t being done anywhere else – and the need exists everywhere there are pianos.
In 2023, Pianocycle picked up 215 unwanted or outgrown pianos. Of those, 195 were recycled and 20 were given away to new homes.
For information about receiving/donating an acoustic piano, or future Pianocycle Open Houses where you can get piano wood and other component parts for free, call 612.208.0553. You can also send a text to 651.343.4703 or email drew@pianocycle.com.