Bicycle Helmets Trash Please place bicycle helmets in your trash container. Consider DonationIf the helmet is not damaged or expired, please donate. Visit Athens’ Material Reuse page for ideas. Ways to Reduce Buy Recycled You can reduce the consumption of virgin plastics by buying helmets that are specifically made of recycled plastic. Replace Responsibly To reduce consumption and save money, replace helmets only when expired or damaged. The Snell Foundation recommends that helmets be replaced after 5 years of normal use or after a serious crash.