Introduction – Donating VHS
VHS (video home system) tapes were the standard way to record television programs, watch movies and store digital images and audio. The VHS (Video Home System) format was introduced by JVC in Japan in 1976, and in the United States in 1977.
The peak usage of VHS can be considered the late 1980s to the mid-1990s.
But now, VHS has been out of fashion for … oh, like forever. The number of people who know what is VHS is dwindling and soon it’ll be a remnant of archaeology.
Most people who came of age in the ’80s and ’90s have boxes of VHS cassettes stashed away somewhere.
VHS cassette tapes are made of plastic and contain metal tape inside.
The metal tape is up to 1,410 feet of material.
They are a pain to get rid of – that is why in this article we will be looking at ways to donate, and to recycle VHS!
How To Donate VHS Tapes
1. Contact your local charity or second-hand store to see if they accept VHS tapes as donations. If so, you can drop off the tapes at their location or have them picked up.
2. Look for a recycling center that specializes in media such as music and movies. They may also take VHS tapes and recycle them properly.
3. Post on online classified sites like Craigslist or eBay to give away any used VHS tapes you have laying around the house or office. You can even set a price if you’d like to make some money off of it.
4. Donate the cassettes to senior centers, schools, and libraries in need of entertainment options for their members and patrons. These institutions will usually be happy to accept your donation of VHS tapes.
5. Check if there are any electronics stores or thrift shops in your area that accept VHS tape donations for recycling. Some stores will even pay you for them, so it’s worth checking.
6. Research organizations and charities on the internet that accept VHS donations. These organizations typically have donation centers around the country and they may even come to pick up the tapes from you if necessary.
7. Contact broadcasting and production companies who may be interested in acquiring vintage video footage from old VHS tapes for use in current productions. If you have rare or interesting content stored on those cassettes, this could be a way to make money off of them instead of donating them.
By donating VHS tapes, you can keep them out of landfills and give them a second life. Consider these options when looking for how to donate VHS tapes in 2023. It may take some time, but you’ll feel good knowing that your old movies and shows are finding new homes.
8. Film schools or art institutions might be interested in older media formats for educational purposes.
9. Vintage shops sell vintage items and might be interested in VHS tapes, particularly if they have rare or classic films.
Recycling VHS Tapes
Recycling Centers
The term “e-waste” refers to what VHS tapes are, and certain home waste and recycling centers do accept them.
Get in touch with the recycling center in your area to find out whether or not they can take them, or if they know of any other organizations that will.
Greendisk
Greendisk is an organization that recycles obsolete electronic devices of every kind and welcomes donations of them. They accept the following ones, among others:
- VHS tapes
- Floppy Disks
- Cassette tapes
- DVDs
- CDs
Before Donating – Transfer Your VHS to Digital
The easiest way to make sure your VHS memories are preserved is by converting VHS tapes to digital video.
You will need a special device that can convert the analog signal on the tape into digital, like the ClearClick Video to Digital Converter, and then download it to a DVD or computer.
After the conversion, we will tell you that you shouldn’t just toss away or recycle your VHS cassettes. Read on to find out.
You Cannot Recycle VHS Tapes At Regular Recycling Centers – Here’s Why
The broad reason is that VHS tapes are made up of various components, many of which aren’t accepted in standard curbside recycling programs due to their complex nature.
These components include a plastic casing, magnetic tape, and metal parts.
The most serious and specific reason is the magnetic tape inside the casing.
It’s made of a thin strip of plastic coated with metallic oxides containing heavy metals like chromium, which are hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly.
On top of this, the tape is often considered ‘tanglers‘ in recycling facilities, which means it wraps around and jams the sorting equipment, costing repair and downtime.
Less serious but still valid reasons not to recycle VHS tapes is that the plastic casing is typically made from #5 plastic (polypropylene), which isn’t universally accepted in all recycling programs.
Finally, the small metal parts, such as the screws holding the casing together, are too small to be sorted correctly.
Earth911 Recycling VHS Tapes
Earth911 is a recycling center that takes all kinds of electronic waste, including VHS cassettes, and turns them into new products.
They offer places all around the United States where you can leave your donations.
Check their website or give them a call to find out whether they have a place that is local to you that you may use for dropping off items.
Where To Donate VHS Tapes?
Once you have all your VHS tapes ready for donation, it is important to find a place that can accept them.
Here are some of the places you can look into when looking for how to donate VHS tapes in 2023:
Local Libraries And Schools
Most local libraries and schools will take donations of media, as long as they are in decent condition. Whether they take very old formats is unclear.
They may use these donated tapes for educational purposes or even give them away to people who don’t have access to digital media.
More likely we predict that these institutions moved to newer formats and no longer use VHS tapes.
Thrift Shops
Thrift shops often accept donations of electronics like VHS cassettes, so this could be a great option if you know of one nearby that takes such items.
You can also check out Goodwill or Salvation Army stores.
Online Classified Sites
There are many online classified sites, such as Craigslist and eBay, where you can post your VHS tapes for sale or donation.
This is a great way to get rid of them quickly, but make sure to set clear expectations with the person who will be taking them off your hands so that everyone is on the same page.
Recycling Centers That Specialize In Media Items
Some recycling centers specialize in media items like CDs and DVDs, which may also take VHS cassettes for recycling.
These centers typically use recycled material to create new products so that it doesn’t end up in landfills.
Charitable Organizations
Many organizations accept donations of old VHS cassettes and use them for various charitable causes.
Some may give the tapes away to people in need, while others might use them for educational purposes.
Make sure to research the organization before you donate so that you can be sure your donation is going toward a good cause.
If you donate your old VHS tapes instead of tossing them away, you’ll be doing your part to keep hazardous waste out of landfills.
If you’re wondering what to do with your old VHS tapes in 2023, here are some ideas to keep in mind while you research your donation possibilities.
It’s simple, it’s good for the environment, and it makes you feel good to help out.
Recycling Cassette Tapes
It is important to remember that VHS tapes should not be thrown away but rather recycled.
If you can’t find a place to donate them, then the next best option is to recycle the cassettes properly.
Most electronic waste collection centers will accept donations of VHS tapes and Properly recycle them according to their local regulations.
Recycling Your Old VHS Tapes In 2023
In 2023, if you want to get rid of your old VHS tapes, you can donate them to a local charity or correctly recycle them.
You may help keep harmful materials out of the environment and give someone else the gift of watching your video memories by reusing them instead of throwing them away.
To help the community and the planet, donate your old VHS cassettes.
Do your homework to ensure that your donations will be used appropriately, whether you’re giving them to a local school or library, a non-profit, a recycling center, or an online classifieds service.
All it takes is a little bit of time and work to guarantee the safety of your memories for decades to come.
Conclusion
The greatest method to prevent VHS cassettes from ending up in landfills and give them a second life is to donate or recycle them.
If you’re trying to figure out where to donate your old VHS tapes in the year 2023, these are some places to look.
Despite the delay, you can take comfort in knowing that your collection of classic television series and movies is being enjoyed by new audiences.
Don’t forget to throw away any cassettes that can’t be recycled or given in your area.
As a result, you’ll lessen the chances of harmful soil contamination from toxic substances.
By donating and recycling VHS tapes, you’re helping preserve memories while keeping toxins out of the environment.
What could be better? So don’t let those old VHS tapes collect dust in your closet – start looking for ways to donate them so they can be enjoyed by others.
