I throw out tubes that have a hole and I've taken off the bike. For the following reasons:
1. Flat Resistant Tires - have meant that I hardly do much patching any more
2. Cost - you only save $4.50. $9 for a new tube vs $4.30 for a patch kit, that's not paying for your extra time
3. Glue Patch Kits are 1-time-use - in my experience the glue tube glues itself shut not to long after using it the first time and can never be used again

I've seen arguments that you can buy stuff to patch your tires in bulk much more cheaply, and have glue that doesn't glue itself shut, but at less than 1 flat a year on average it's not worth the extra storage space or hassle for me either.

I fix my own flats party because the time and inconvenience it would take me to take it to and from the bike shop is greater than the time it takes me to do it myself. I also like being able to do it if I get a flat while riding. But I just don't see a cost benefit to patching tubes when I so rarely get flats. I think it's simply cheaper to put a new tube in and throw the old one out.

This might not apply to everyone. The equation is different if you're retired on a fixed income or savings. It's different if you live somewhere where you're getting a lot more flats than I am. But for me, I feel it's more costly to patch my tubes than it is to put on a new one and throw out the old one.

"Flat resistant tires" are only resistant to flats. They aren't immune from flats. While where you live has some influence on the rate of flats, I've still managed to get flats with flat resistant tires in places where goatheads aren't a problem.

Someone is ripping you off! If you paid $4.50 for a patch kit, you paid $2.50 too much. Rema TipTop patch kits run about $2 and have enough patches to fix 7 tubes. At $9 per tube (which is also high in my experience), that's $27 vs $2. I can afford to throw out tubes after each puncture but there are the voices of my depression era parents in my head telling me that $25 is a lot of money.

I don't know what you are doing to your glue patch kits but I find them to be far from a single use item. I check my patch kits at the beginning of each summer to see if the glue has dried and replace the glue with a fresh tube. Even then, a properly sealed glue tube will last me a year or even more. New tubes of glue that haven't been opened will last for decades.

Just because you average 1 flat per year doesn't mean that you can't have a very bad day. Flats are entirely random and I've had instances where I've blown through my spare tube, my patch kit, patch kit of the three other people on my ride and still ended up walking the last mile of the ride. Granted this was in an area where the goatheads are legend but I've done the same ride and not had one flat.

lol the goatheads.

They.Are.Everywhere.Here, so much so I groom the rubber after each ride--I do anyway owing to the roads scholars that seem unable not to break bottles along the streets. And if I happen to slack and dip off the pavement, I'm stoppin' and lookin' right then and there. Sometimes they get thru, oftentimes not. But a big spike will always seal the deal so to speak, and sometimes self-seal as CC points out (apologies for the crude pun).

Regarding glue tubes, a bit of rubber glove carefully applied makes for a good gasket to keep out the air. Grocery bag plastic too--two layers for this. Not had a tube desiccate doing this.

And I patch until I can't. That includes patching over an existing patch.

And removing an existing patch and re-patching, which can be a right piatch.

In the past I've tossed them. I've never carried a patch kit on me in my previous four tours (which amounted to a total of one flat) but on flats in the city as well. I purchased a patch kit on the recommendation of several members here. It's been so long since I've used one I was considering buying a tube just to practice.

I'll patch 2 times, if the holes are far enough apart. I carry 2 spares in my tool bag ( because I got them FREE!) on long rides, and a patch kit for short rides. After 2 patches, I cut them up, buy new ones.

On the road, I'll throw my spare tube on, and make the necessary repair at home. Last season went well with only two flats.

The only market wanting to pay for what be "patched tubes" -- be any homeless who have the spare change, and can't afford to pay the full price for a new tube. Your idea is tooo limited.

Well said,
I don't get many flats, and don't like being wasteful. If the tube can be patched it gets done.

[QUOTE=Garfield Cat;18516189]I did not go through all the responses, but was wondering what is the proper way to discard tires and tubes. Are they the same or do tires go with auto tires and tubes somewhere else?

Anybody here in the recycle business?[/QUOTE

Seems not, and that there is lacking concern.
The only REAL RECYCLING is donation to the over-populated homeless. I am not commenting so to endorse them; but only commenting that such people will accept it. Maybe, one will sell it to another in the same living status. But one way or another --- the tires/tubes are Recycled. Your goal is achieved.
But remember: today's homeless society is not appreciative of donations in the same attitude/degree, as society during the early 1900's depression. Today's homeless will take full advantage, of whatever they can get.

I'd re-evaluate my methods in this case. I bought a couple of spare tubes two years ago, and there are five bikes in the household that get frequent use.

My last flat was my son's MTB - after patching it leaked (valve stem) so I replaced it. I'm not a fanatic. But it's generally not a failure in tubes that cause flats, so there's no reason beyond a minute or two to toss them.

The single most effective thing I've done to reduce the number of flats has been to simply replace the tires when I see casing.