Does anyone know if there is a way to recycle old VHS tapes?

November 22, 2005 12:56 PM

Does anyone know if there is a way to recycle old VHS tapes? I just finished digitizing a bunch of material that my girlfriend has recorded to VHS over the years, and now we have about 20 VHS tapes that I don't know what to do with. It seems like a shame to throw them a way.
posted by moseymose to society & culture (9 comments total)

Donate to your favorite thrift shop.
posted by hortense at 12:58 PM on November 22, 2005

craigslist > your-city > free stuff
posted by StickyCarpet at 1:04 PM on November 22, 2005

Don't throw them away. 20 tapes isn't all that bad to store. If what is on those tapes is of any value at all, keep them.

DVD's do go bad. CD's do go bad. More often then you might think, and sooner then you might think.
posted by voidcontext at 1:05 PM on November 22, 2005

Greendisk.
posted by matildaben at 1:33 PM on November 22, 2005

Freecycle has been good place to give things a new home...
posted by tpl1212 at 1:41 PM on November 22, 2005

20 tapes isn't all that bad to store

Sez you -- that's a whole box! How 'bout we store it at your place?

Donate to your favorite thrift shop.

This might fit some definitions of "recycle" but methinks you'll just be adding to their clutter.

Greendisk

Now we're talking. Unfortunately, you have to mail 'em to Washington State. Let's hope they expand.

(I've come to the conclusion that all magnetic storage media is now the equivalent of Betamax.)
posted by Rash at 1:42 PM on November 22, 2005

Storing them is out of the question, as reducing clutter in my life was the impetus for digitizing in the first place. I tried the thrift store route, but I couldn't find a place that would take used blank VHS tapes, which didn't surprise me any since giving away VHS tapes in this day and age is akin to giving away telephone directories or AOL startup disks. Greendisk it is, looks like a great service. Thank you matildaben & Rash.
posted by moseymose at 3:05 PM on November 22, 2005

I second the idea of saving the videotapes - at least the ones that can't be replicated such as special occasions. I've had too many burned cds go bad on me to trust anything important on them for more than a couple of years. I have VHS tapes from 1980 that still work. Store them at your mom's house.
posted by any major dude at 3:40 PM on November 22, 2005

Evelyn Roth, a Vancouver artist, used to crochet installations from videotape back in the dark ages. Here's her website. Email her and see what she says.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:09 PM on November 22, 2005