Cymbalmagic is the most environmentally and socially conscious option for your kit. Producing new cymbals comes at a price – in the shape of the copper and tin mining industries.

More than just saving money
You may not have realized this, but if you decide to have your broken cymbal repaired by Cymbalmagic, or to buy a second hand or restored cymbal – you are making a positive sustainable move. Recycling and repairing cymbals is probably the most significant way that you, as a drummer, can act to protect the environment.

Since Cymbalmagic was founded I have stopped hundreds of cymbals from ending up in landfill – and giving drummers years more playing time out of their cymbals, even if they get damaged along the way.

The real impact of mining
The bronze needed to make a new cymbal requires sizeable amounts of copper and tin base metals – and the mining process can cause pollution and environmental damage. Deforestation, sinkholes and land erosion are common, and by-products of mining and copper smelting include arsenic and sulphuric acid – which, if badly managed, can cause acid rain, water pollution and harm the people and animals who live near the smelting plants. Mining also uses large amounts of clean water, which can deprive local people and deplete the water supplies. You can read more about this in India, Zambia, Papua New Guinea and Chile here.

The copper bought on the world market is derived from approximately 1/3 – 1/2 recycled materials so although the majority of new cymbals already contain a percentage of recycled copper, a proportion of it is still from newly mined metals. The figures vary from country to country, and depend on the markets – but mining is still a factor unless the manufacturer explicitly states that they have used entirely recycled bronze (as in Dream’s exclusive Forge Reserve Line).

Recycling
The good thing about copper is that it is so highly recyclable – so if you want to buy new, taking your old cymbals to a scrap metal dealer or tip rather than putting them in the standard waste means that the copper can be extracted and re-used. If you want to sell on your broken cymbals I can offer very competitive prices, above the current scrap rate.

Big steps forward
There have been many very positive actions by manufacturers to reduce the impact of cymbal production on the environment: Dream's recycling program, where customers can return cymbals to be melted down and used in a limited edition line, or made into an EFX unit; and excellent green working practices at Meinl, right down to an electric car on site. Sabian recycle their own rejected cymbals for use within the production process, and many other manufacturers are moving toward much more ecologically sound models.

Cymbalmagic is powered by 100% solar and wind


All the equipment used here at Cymbalmagic HQ to do my repair and modding magic is powered by 100% renewable energy, from wind and solar (check out Good Energy if you want to switch). Any leftover bronze is either used in jewellery making or recycled, so nothing goes in landfill. I am working towards carbon neutral accreditation in the future, and will be continually improving my working practices until then.

So play your repaired cymbal with pride – every scallop or slot cut is reducing your impact on the earth– and you get a beautifully worked cymbal into the deal.

If you want to know more:

The Guardian
Friends of the Earth
Financial Times
Princeton University