Whether from childhood sports leagues, academic achievements, or professional milestones, old trophies and awards often pose a dilemma. They represent significant achievements in our lives and, as such, often hold sentimental value. However, as our lives evolve, there comes a time when we must let them go. Here is some advice on disposing of old trophies and awards while still honouring their legacy.

Choose What to Honour

Not every trophy or medal is worth keeping, but some are. Before diving into downsizing, please read my post on organizing school memorabilia. The B-C.L.E.A.R. process I outlined in that post will help you when decluttering your trophies and awards.

First, put a limit on how many you will keep. Specify whether you will keep one bin or only what will fit on one or two shelves. Next, choose the ones that mean the most to you. For example, you might keep the medal from your Grade 6 soccer team because that’s where you met your lifelong friends. Alternatively, you might keep an Employee of the Month plaque for closing a “deal of a lifetime” at work.

The next step is to honour what you keep. If you’re storing items in a box or bin, carefully wrap them in tissue paper or bubble wrap. Place paper certificates and awards in archival-quality sheet protectors so they do not become brittle and yellowed. If you decide to display your items, store them in a UV protective case or shadow box and keep them out of direct sunlight.

Create a Digital Archive

Take photographs of your trophies, awards, and any accompanying certificates or other memorabilia. Ideally, include a story about how you achieved the honour and who else was involved (teammates, coaches, etc.). You could invest in an inexpensive photo lightbox to take better pictures. Once you finish, store your digital archive on an external hard drive and remember to create a backup copy to preserve your achievements for future generations.

Letting Go of Trophies and Awards

Now comes the challenging part – letting go of the trophies and awards you no longer want. While tossing them in the trash is the easiest option, it’s not the best option for the environment. Because many trophies and awards are made with a mix of plastics and metals, you can only place them in the recycling bin if you take them apart.

Note: Whether you dispose of, repurpose, or reuse old trophies, it’s a good idea to remove any personalized elements (engraved plaques or nameplates) for security reasons. For instance, if the Debate Club trophy lists your name and high school, it might be the same information you use as an answer to login security questions.

Upcycle

If you are a crafty, DIY-type person, a quick internet search will give you plenty of ideas for upcycling trophies. People have turned them into jewelry holders, candle holders, cupcake stands, and more. They have even turned them into “new” trophies by adding a bit of paint and glitter. My favourite one was the Ugly Christmas Sweater trophy.

Donate Locally

For the non-creative types, consider donating your old trophies and awards. Many charitable organizations have limited budgets and might appreciate being able to incorporate your awards into their programs. Check out your local:

• schools and daycare centres
• community centres
• sports clubs
• youth or seniors’ programs
• houses of worship
• refugee/immigration centres

Additionally, reach out to individuals and families through Buy Nothing Groups. You never know; someone might appreciate receiving trophies or medals to hand out to children at their big family reunion event.

Donate to a Recycling Centre

Another option is to send your trophies and awards to a trophy recycling centre (see our Where to Sell or Donate section). These not-for-profit agencies accept used items, refurbish them into non-gender-specific awards, and donate them to groups that need them. As these agencies are not-for-profit, the sender (that’s you) is responsible for the cost of shipping the trophies to them.

Parting ways with old trophies and awards can be challenging. However, by keeping and displaying the most meaningful ones and creating a digital archive of the rest, we can honour the memories and accomplishments in our lives. By repurposing and donating the treasures we no longer need, we can bring joy and delight to others.

If you need help decluttering your trophies and awards, feel free to contact the Out of Chaos team. We would love to walk down memory lane with you.