Maya Ellison
VHS tapes are made of two types of plastic: the outer casing is made of #5 plastic, also known as polypropylene, and the inner ribbon is made of Mylar, a type of #1 plastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). While the outer casing is recyclable, the inner ribbon is more challenging to recycle due to its coating of toxic metals, including chromium. Proper disposal of VHS tapes is essential to prevent hazardous materials from ending up in landfills, where they can leach into the soil and water. Several options are available for recycling VHS tapes, including local recycling centers, e-waste recyclers, and companies like GreenDisk and GreenCitizen, which offer mail-in recycling services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Polypropylene or #5 plastic |
| Other materials | Mylar (a type of polyethylene terephthalate or #1 plastic) coated in metals such as chromium, iron oxide |
| Recyclability | Technically recyclable, but challenging due to the mix of materials and the toxicity of some components. Not all recycling centres accept VHS tapes. |
| Recycling process | Shredding, followed by separation of materials using water or magnets |
| Recommended recyclers | GreenDisk, GreenCitizen, Earth911 |
| Alternative options | Reselling, repurposing for art or other projects, converting to digital format |
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What You'll Learn
VHS tapes contain #5 plastic (polypropylene)
VHS tapes are made of #5 plastic, also known as polypropylene or PP. This plastic is recyclable, but it can be challenging to find a recycling centre that accepts VHS tapes.
The outer casing of VHS tapes is made from #5 plastic, while the inner tape is made from Mylar, a type of #1 plastic. This Mylar tape is coated in toxic metals, including chromium, which can be hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly. As a result, the Mylar tape is often the part of the VHS tape that cannot be recycled and must be separated from the plastic casing.
Due to the mix of materials in VHS tapes, it is essential to find a recycling centre equipped to handle e-waste. Some companies, like GreenDisk and GreenCitizen, specialise in recycling e-waste and will accept VHS tapes. However, their policies may change, so it is always good to contact them beforehand.
If you cannot find a recycling centre that accepts VHS tapes, there are other options to consider. You can repurpose the VHS tapes and their cases for art projects, or you can digitise your VHS tapes to preserve the content before recycling the tapes.
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Mylar tape inside is #1 plastic, coated in metals
The inner tape of a VHS tape is made of Mylar, a type of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or #1 plastic. Mylar is also used to make the ribbon on cassette tapes and 5¼” floppy disks. While the outer casing of a VHS tape is typically made of polypropylene (PP) or #5 plastic, the inner ribbon is coated with iron oxide and other metals, some of which are hazardous. This makes recycling VHS tapes difficult, as the different components need to be separated, and not all recycling centres are equipped to handle VHS tapes.
The Mylar tape, in particular, presents a challenge due to the toxic metals on its surface, such as chromium. These metals are necessary for the tape to carry a magnetic signal, but they also make the tape hazardous waste. As a result, VHS tapes are classified as electronic waste or "e-waste". The proper disposal of e-waste is crucial to prevent environmental harm, as dumping VHS tapes in landfills can lead to the toxic metals leaching into the surrounding water and soil over time.
To recycle VHS tapes, it is essential to find a recycling centre that accepts them. Websites like Earth911.com can help locate nearby recycling centres that accept VHS tapes. Some companies, such as GreenDisk and GreenCitizen, offer mail-in recycling services specifically for e-waste, including VHS tapes. These companies have the necessary equipment to handle the recycling process securely.
Before sending VHS tapes for recycling, it is worth considering other options. VHS tapes can be repurposed for art projects, such as creating unique lamps or tote bags from the plastic cases. For those with family videos, transferring the content to DVDs or digital files ensures precious memories are preserved. Additionally, rare VHS releases can be sold online, as there is still a market for collectors seeking specific films.
While recycling VHS tapes can be challenging due to the Mylar tape's metal coating, it is crucial to handle their disposal responsibly. By exploring recycling options, repurposing, or reselling, we can prevent these tapes from ending up in landfills and causing potential environmental harm.
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Not all recycling centres accept VHS tapes
If you are looking to recycle your old VHS tapes, you should first check if your local recycling centre accepts them. You can do this by searching online for a local recycling centre and calling them to ask if they accept VHS tapes. If they do not, your next step would be to find an e-waste recycler in your area. Some options for this include GreenDisk, GreenCitizen, and 1-800-Recycling. These companies offer mail-in recycling services, so you can package your VHS tapes and send them in.
If you are unable to find a recycling centre that accepts VHS tapes, there are other options for disposing of them responsibly. You could repurpose the tapes and use them for art projects, or donate them to thrift stores, schools, daycare centres, libraries, or nursing homes. You could also sell them online to collectors, as there is still a niche market for VHS tapes, especially for rare, obscure, or cult-classic films that haven't been transferred to digital formats.
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VHS tapes can be repurposed for art
VHS tapes contain a mix of harmful substances and materials that, if not properly collected and recycled, could cause harm to the environment. The outer cases of VHS tapes are made of plastic and are theoretically recyclable. However, the inner tape is made of a phthalate-laden form of plastic polyethylene, often sold under the trade name Mylar, which is challenging to recycle.
If you have a lot of tapes, you can take them apart and recycle the plastic pieces. The outer case of the VHS tapes is made from #5 plastic (polypropylene). The tape inside is made from #1 plastic but is coated in metals, making it difficult to recycle. The Mylar tape is actually hazardous due to the metals on its surface.
There are a few options for recycling VHS tapes. Some local recycling centres may accept VHS tapes, and there are also mail-in electronics recycling programs such as GreenDisk that can recycle VHS tapes. Retailers like Staples and Best Buy also take e-waste, but it's important to call your local store first as acceptance varies.
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VHS tapes can be recycled by mailing them to specialist companies
VHS tapes are made of #5 plastic (polypropylene) and Mylar (polyethylene terephthalate), which are both technically recyclable materials. However, the process is not so simple. The Mylar tape inside VHS cassettes is coated with metals considered to be hazardous waste, and the plastic casings often contain metal screws and other mixed materials. This means that VHS tapes cannot simply be thrown into a plastic recycling bin or brought to landfills. If they sit in landfills for too long, the toxic metals in the tapes will seep into the ground.
The good news is that there are specialist companies that can handle the recycling of VHS tapes. If you have a large number of VHS tapes to recycle, GreenDisk offers Technotrash Cans of different sizes with prepaid shipping. Otherwise, you can package your VHS tapes in a box and mail them to GreenDisk, paying for the shipping yourself. GreenDisk will collect your tapes, erase the contents, and recycle as much as possible.
Another option is GreenCitizen, which serves the entire US with its mail-in recycling service. GreenCitizen does not require you to destroy the tapes yourself, as they handle the data wiping and physical destruction. You can also use their Green Directory to find nearby VHS tape recyclers.
If you are unable to recycle your VHS tapes, there are other options to consider. You could repurpose your old VHS tapes for art projects, or sell them online if they are rare or valuable. You could also convert VHS tapes containing home videos to DVDs or digital files, either yourself using special equipment or through a business that provides this service for a fee.
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