In the 90 ’s , you ’d be hard pressed to find a living room that was n’t loaded with a giant assemblage of forcible culture medium . But society ’s transition to digital amusement has left a spate of mass wonderingwhat to do with old VHS tape , audio cassette tapes , and other disused electronic waste .
Before you start tossing your former tape in the trash , do the environment a favor by exploring originative and practical ways to repurpose or reprocess them .
1. Donate Them
Believe it or not , there are still communities and collectors who habituate VHS tapes . Schools , day care centers , library and nursing base sometimes accept these donation for educational or amusement use . Call your local library or mail on a biotic community forum to happen local system or individuals that are willing to take your unwanted VHS tape recording .
Most thrift storehouse and non-profit-making organizations will take them off your hands too . If you ’re timid , call out front to confirm that they do indeed accept VHS tape .
2. Sell Them
There ’s a niche market for VHS tapes , especially rare , unknown , or cult - classic films that have n’t been transfer to digital formats . internet site like eBay or Etsy are platforms where collector frequently wait for such items .
You might be surprised at the value some of your old tape could have . For example , back in June of 2022 , a sealed 1983 copy of Jaws sold for $ 32,500 in a Heritage auction [ Source : Bartiromo ] .
3. Digital Conversion
For the tapes stop precious memories or rare content not available in a digital format , convert them to digital data file can be a practical solvent . There are serving that can do this for a fee , or you could undertake the undertaking yourself with the correct equipment . Once digitise , you’re able to ensure those memories are preserve for future generation without the majority of physical tapes .
4. Upcycle Them
For the creatively incline , VHS tapes tender a unique spiritualist for crafting and creative project . The mylar tape recording can be meander into bag , rugs , or even clothes , while the fount can be transformed into exposure frames , storage box , or custom notebooks [ source : Eire ] . There are legion tutorial online that can maneuver you through these undertaking .
5. Recycle Them
Recycling VHS tapesis more challengingthan recycling vernacular household items do to their combination of plastic and magnetic tape . Sadly , it ’s not as well-heeled as cast them in the recycling bin .
However , some specialised recycling centers do accept them , and go down the VHS tape constituent for reuse . religious service can depart by fix , which is why you ’re encouraged to explore local options online . Websites like Green Citizen , 1 - 800 - Recycling , and Earth911 are all invaluable online resources for the eco - conscious consumer [ author : Adams ] .
Long Live Physical Media
The market for physical media likeBluRaysandCDshas been on the decline , and VHS tapes have been out of circulation for ten . Still , these relics of a begone era stay on in basements , closets , and attics all over the worldly concern .
Fortunately , there are a lot of easy and creative fashion to reprocess VHS tape measure without get to put away them in a the dumpster . Give them a second life history through donation , upcycling and merchandising . Or , dispose of them the right way by participating in local recycling programs , or at a local waste direction adeptness .
