Q. How can I dispose of old video tapes?
Yes, VHS tapes are recyclable. You can recycle them with specialist VHS tape recycling services like GreenCitizen, though there will normally be a fee. You could also choose to send them to a waste-to-energy incineration recycling plant where they will be burned to produce green energy.
Q. Can I put video tapes in the recycle bin?
The Bad News In most local council areas videotapes cannot be put in your plastics kerbside recycling bin because of the chemical content of the tape itself, and even some recycling centres will not accept them.
Q. What can I do with VHS tapes?
VHS tapes can be recycled in several ways: they can be turned back into usable, though slightly downcycled plastics, or they can be sold or donated to people who might want to watch them again. Believe it or not, some people still have functioning VCRs that will allow them to play VHS tapes.
Q. How do I dispose of old VHS tapes UK 2020?
A company called Tip Top Media currently accepts old tapes for disposal but there may be a charge for this so please contact them for more information. VHS tapes and cassettes are now rarely accepted at recycling centres and charity shops and are generally sent to landfill.
Q. What can I do with old video tapes UK?
VHS Cassette Tapes
- You can re-use your VHS cassette tapes at Freecycle.
- Donate them to your nearest charity shop(s), we advise you check with the shop first.
Q. Who takes old VHS?
Drop off old VHS tapes to a Goodwill, Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul thrift shop. Donating unwanted items like these tapes extends their lifespans.
Q. What can you not donate to a thrift store?
While you should contact your local thrift store to determine their specific rules, here are 10 items you should think twice about donating.
- Cribs and car seats. Shutterstock.
- Mattresses.
- Older model televisions.
- Hazardous items.
- Anything in poor condition.
- Shades and blinds with pull cords.
- Encyclopedias.
- Baskets.
Q. What’s the best way to recycle VHS tapes?
The cardboard ones are easy to recycle; simply place them in your recycling bin along with other types of paper. Once you find a place that recycles VHS tapes (either in your community or online), check to see if they accept the plastic cases.
Q. What can I do with my VCR tapes?
If you can’t recycle VCR tapes, you could sell them online to the highest bidder. We’ve seen rare ones go for as much as $9,000! You can also get rid of them by bringing the buyers to you via a yard sale or a Craigslist ad.
Q. Are there any magnetic tapes that are recyclable?
The inner tape is made of a phthalate-laden form of the plastic polyethylene, often sold under the trade name Mylar, which is not recyclable. What’s worse, in these magnetic tapes the Mylar is coated with toxic metals, especially chromium.
Q. What kind of plastic is a VHS tape made of?
The casing on VHS tapes is mostly made of No. 5 plastic or polypropylene, which can be recycled. The inside, on the other hand, is mylar tape, made of No. 1 plastic, which is coated in an assortment of metals that are not so easy to recycle. It’s not that this mylar isn’t inherently reusable, it’s just that no one really wants it.
