Are Old Video Tapes Recyclable?
The Outer Cases of Vhs, Betamax and Audio Cassette Tapes Are Indeed Plastic, and at Least Theoretically Recyclable. but You Can't Just Chuck the Whole Thing...
The outer cases of VHS, Betamax and audio cassette tapes are indeed plastic, and at least theoretically recyclable. But you can't just chuck the whole thing into a recycling bin. 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.
How do you dispose of VHS 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.
What can I do with old video tapes?
- Thrift Stores. Most thrift stores will accept donations of VHS tapes.
- Green Disk. Green Disk will recycle your old VHS tapes for you.
- Freecycle. Offer your VHS tapes on Freecycle and hope somebody else wants them.
- Make Scarecrows. ...
- Knit With the Tape.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
