Everything you need to know about recycling video and audio tapes
Learn more about reusing and recycling tapes
How to recycle tapes
Video and audio tapes (VHS and cassette tapes) should not be put in your household recycling bin. If they are in good condition, charity shops like Vinnies and Red Cross may accept them. Otherwise, video and audio tapes can be dropped off for recycling at designated collection points. A number of companies in Australia offer recycling services for video and audio tapes with their cases and there are also some repair services for videos. However, most will likely only accept commercial quantities and will not accept small amounts from households.
Use the directory on this page to see if there is a recycler near you. If you cannot find a recycling service near you, the tapes should be put in your garbage bin.
Recycling large quantities
There are some recycling companies that offer national collection services for commercial quantities of video and audio tapes. To find a commercial recycling service for your workplace or business, visit the page for recycling options for tapes at work.
Why recycle?
Video and audio tapes are not biodegradable, so when they are landfilled, they exist indefinitely, adding to the growing e-waste problem. There are some repair and recycling services available for video and audio tapes, which prevent the materials used to make the products from going to waste in landfill. Note: recyclers will likely only accept commercial quantities and not small amounts from households.
What happens to them?
Repair: there is potential for videos to be restored or for the content to be saved and transferred to a CD, DVD, or other device for storage.
Recycling: the recycling process involves separating the various plastic components, which are then granulated and recycled. The plastic cases are recycled with other plastics and the paper inserts are given to paper recyclers for processing. The recovered plastics are used for manufacturing a wide variety of products.
