How to dispose of VHS tapes

Underdog

So my mom is doing some cleaning and we have a large catalogue of VHS tapes that she wants to throw out. I did a little bit of googling but I couldn't really find definitive information about how to go about doing it. Can they be recycled and if not, do they just go in the trash? I'm in Toronto by the way.

skeldare

Qucik Google search brought up this:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2079415_recycle-vhs.html

Edit: Though I'm not sure if some of these will help if you're in Canada.

Figgy

Most sites will tell you there are harmful chemicals inside VHS tapes and they are non-biodegradable. This may be the case, but that doesn't mean there is a better alternative for disposal other than your garbage bin.

The City of Toronto agrees:

VHS tapes, CDs and DVDs do not go in your Blue Bin. Please pass them on for reuse or put them in your Garbage Bin. Some electronics stores accept CDs and DVDs for recycling. Check dowhatyoucan.ca.

Bionic Monkey

Will pawn shops still buy VHS tapes? I sold the last of mine about 7 years ago for about a buck a pop.

Figgy

Hmm, that's a good idea. It's worth a shot calling around to retro/used media stores. You're in Toronto, so that's the perfect place for it. There might be a place willing to throw you some cash for your collection.

Underdog

Yeah I found that thing on the City of Toronto website too. I hadn't thought about pawning the stuff though. I wonder if those kinds of stores have websites.

evilmrhenry

Recycling isn't really worth it for VHS because there's something like 6 different types of plastic in there. If you can't find a pawn shop, give them away on craigslist or something.

Zeon

Or just take the box to the local goodwill store. You can generally just drop it off behind the store (Youll see a bunch of other stuff people have left back there).

wogi

Dude... got anything good? I still have a vhs player, and my catalog of movies is never big enough.

Underdog

They're all old hong kong movies. And it's too late, she already dumped them in the trash. Before I made this thread actually so I guess this was kinda pointless.

Casual

Zeon wrote: »

Or just take the box to the local goodwill store. You can generally just drop it off behind the store (Youll see a bunch of other stuff people have left back there).

I volenteered in a charity shop for the first 6 months of this year. The manager stopped taking in VHS tapes because they were a waste of our time and space. We were struggling to sell them for 10p each, meanwhile people kept bringing them in and we had boxes of them piling up in the stock room.

In short they're worthless. Either find someone who will take them off you for free or chuck them in the bin.

wogi

Aw man. That would have been worth my time (though probably not yours)

I'm a bit of a nut for old movies.

VisionOfClarity

Bring them to the local library!