Traffic Cones For Less launches cone reuse program

Traffic Cones For Less rolled out an UpCycle Program on Oct. 7 to keep plastic traffic cones out of landfills and move them into schools, nonprofits and community groups. The program adds a small purchase discount and environmental reporting paperwork for participants.

Why it matters: - The UpCycle Program gives worn-out plastic traffic cones a second life instead of sending them to landfills. - Schools, nonprofits, youth sports groups and other community organizations can use cones that are no longer jobsite-ready. - The program also gives participants a way to document landfill diversion for environmental, health and safety reporting.

What happened: - Traffic Cones For Less launched the UpCycle Program on Oct. 7, 2026. - The Pompano Beach, Florida, supplier of traffic safety products is a division of OES Global Inc. - The program accepts traffic cones of any size, age, condition or manufacturer. - Cone owners in South Florida can drop off retired cones at Traffic Cones For Less, 1935 NW 18th Street, Pompano Beach. - Participants outside South Florida can donate or repurpose cones locally, post a photo on social media with #TCFLupcycle, and submit the post through a self-certify form on the program page.

The details: - The program is built around reuse because recycling outlets for cone materials are limited in many regions. - Cones that crack, fade or lose their base are often discarded after use by contractors, municipalities, venues, parking operators and facilities. - Cones routed through the program can go to driving schools, youth sports programs, daycares, museums, nonprofits and religious organizations. - Repurposed cones commonly become planters, yard art and driveway markers. - Participants receive a $1 discount per cone on 28-inch and 36-inch cones in their next purchase. - The discount applies to every qualifying cone in that purchase, even if the participant turns in only one cone. - Early participants will be added to the Founding UpCycle Heroes wall on the Traffic Cones For Less website. - Early participants will also receive an EHS certificate showing the cones they diverted from landfills. - Traffic Cones For Less says the certificate can be used in environmental, health and safety reporting.

Between the lines: - The launch targets a simple pain point: organizations replace safety gear on a schedule, but the old gear still has value outside industrial use. - The discount helps turn a disposal decision into a future purchase incentive. - The program also creates a visible sustainability message for a product category that usually ends up as waste when it wears out. - The timing lines up with winter operations reviews and year-end budget planning, when buyers often reassess safety inventory. - Melissa Schechter, CEO and founder of OES Global Inc., said the program keeps plastic in use and makes environmentally responsible disposal easier.

What's next: - Traffic Cones For Less will track early adopters through the Founding UpCycle Heroes wall. - The company will continue routing South Florida drop-offs and self-certified donations into reuse or donation channels. - The program may expand its footprint as more organizations look for low-cost ways to replace worn safety equipment while limiting waste.

The bottom line: - Traffic Cones For Less is trying to turn retired traffic cones from landfill waste into a reusable resource, while giving participants a purchase discount and sustainability paperwork.