Donate CDs, DVDs and Games: Free Doorstep Collection
Got CDs, DVDs or video games you no longer play? Book a free doorstep collection and we’ll pick them up from your home. We sort what we collect by hand. Discs that can be enjoyed again go to new homes, and most of the rest is recycled into something new. You don’t need to be in, and you choose the charity your donation supports.
- Free
- No need to be in
- You choose the charity
- Most of it used again
Discs gathering dust
Why so many CDs and DVDs are thrown away
Each year, according to UK statistics on waste, the UK throws away CDs and DVDs that are perfectly good to reuse, recycle or donate to charities. The main reason for this is that CD and DVD recycling are not widely available. Most councils do not offer CD and DVD recycling facilities and many charity shops do not have the space to take them in. We are in partnerships with several charities. You can recycle your CDs and DVDs direct from your doorstep.
With so many streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon and Spotify, most households no longer use or need their CDs or DVDs. They take up unnecessary space and collect dust. There are countless CDs and DVDs in UK households. The majority of the discs within that household will not be used again. According to Statista (2022), most UK households no longer have a DVD player, and recent estimates suggest many no longer have a CD player either.
Takes a few minutes
How a CD and DVD collection works
Donating discs and games from home is quick. You book online in a few minutes, from a phone or a laptop, and we do the rest. Here is the whole thing, start to finish.
Book online
Enter your postcode, pick a collection date and choose the charity you’d like to support. It’s free.
Pack your discs
CDs, DVDs and games, in tied bags or boxes a driver can lift.
Leave them out by 7am
On the doorstep, in the porch, or wherever you told us when you booked. You don’t need to be at home.
Watch for our email
The evening before, we email you an estimated arrival window and a link to follow the driver on the day.
We take it from there
Your discs go back to our warehouse. We sort them by hand and pass on what can be played again.
The full walk-through, with packing tips, is on how do I donate my CDs and DVDs?
The simple test
What CDs, DVDs and games can you donate?
If it’s a disc or a game you no longer play, we’ll take it. That includes the music albums in the loft, the box sets on the shelf and the children’s films nobody watches any more.
We collect
- Music CDs and albums
- DVD films and box sets
- Children’s and educational films
- Video games for consoles and computers
- Rare and retro discs
- Books, in the same collection
We can’t take
- VHS and cassette tapes
- Records and record players
- CD and DVD racks
- Magazines and comics
- Board games and jigsaws
Why, and what condition is fine: what CDs, DVDs and games can I donate?
See everything we collect, and if you’re unsure about something, our team is happy to advise.
Sorted by hand
What happens to the discs we collect
Many of the CDs and DVDs that we collect from our donations are re-homed and we donate some of them to any charity that needs them. The most sought-after genres are:
Re-homed
- Educational films
- Children’s films
- Video Game Discs
- Rare and retro discs
The remainder are recycled as they are:
- Damaged
- Another language
- Playback formats that do not work in the UK
- Restricted content
- Unsuitable for UK viewing (BBFC)
- Surplus stock
Follow a disc from your doorstep onwards on what happens to my CDs and DVDs?
Step by step
How are CDs and DVDs recycled?
Book a collection
This first step involves you. Pack up your discs and book a date to have them collected direct from your doorstep. Remember to select a charity for us to share the proceeds of your donations with.
We Collect
We do the second stage, which is the collection and transportation of the discs you have donated to a central location. We collect discs direct from a home, left on the doorstep.
Shredding and granulation
The next stage involves an industrial shredder. One for the plastic box and another for the disc itself. The shredded pieces are then ground into smaller pieces. This makes the next step easier.
Separation and washing
The different materials that make up a disc are then separated. The small granules are washed to remove any impurities.
Pelletising and Manufacturing
The washed granules are then melted into strands and cut into pellets. The pellets are now the raw material used to manufacture something new. The pellets are then used to manufacture something brand new.
A second life
What happens with the recycled materials from CDs and DVDs?
CDs and DVDs typically consist of 3 materials which are recyclable: Polycarbonate plastic, Polystyrene plastic and Aluminium.
Recycled polycarbonate plastic is used in the automotive industry for the manufacture of head and taillights, dashboards, and instrument panels. It is also used to manufacture reusable plastic bottles, food storage containers and the casings for various electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Recycled polystyrene plastic is used in packaging materials such as moulded foam to protect expensive electronic items. It is also used in the construction industry to manufacture lightweight concrete bricks and can be found on insulation boards.
Recycled aluminium has many uses, such as beverage cans, car parts, window frames and is in many kitchen devices and utensils.
Helping the planet
Why should you recycle your CDs and DVDs?
Energy Savings
Recycling plastic typically uses far less energy than making new plastic, which is significantly better for our environment.
Environmental Conservation
CDs and DVDs are primarily made from plastic and are not biodegradable. As they degrade in landfills over time, they release harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater.
Landfill Space
Our landfills are already under significant pressure and we should not be throwing away items that can be recycled.
Economic Benefits
All recycling involves employing people and training them with new skills contributing to the overall productivity of the UK. Your CD and DVD doorstep donations help create employment locally.
Social Benefits
As previously mentioned, many CDs and DVDs are reused. Second hand discs are significantly cheaper than new discs and are therefore more affordable. Some discs donated are made available to schools, charities and community centres. The UK charity sector is under severe financial stress and any help we can give them is hugely appreciated.
Supporting the Circular Economy
Your disc donations support the circular economy. We are creating a sustainable future for everyone and charities benefit too. Now you know what happens to donated CDs and DVDs, keep reading to see what you can do to help.
Our own estimate is that every kilo of discs and games reused instead of made new saves around 2 kg of CO2e. See roughly what your clear-out could save with the green calculator. There is more on how donating CDs and DVDs helps the planet and why old CDs and DVDs shouldn’t go in the bin.
What can you do? By booking a doorstep collection to donate your unwanted CDs, DVDs and all other discs, you are supporting charities and, in our quest, to keep all discs away from landfills. You are also supporting the environment and the economy by booking a collection and donating your discs to us. Less energy is used and therefore less pollution. Hazardous contaminants are kept out of our landfills and groundwater. Affordable CDs and DVDs are available to those that need them, and we are supporting a more sustainable future. Now you know what happens to CDs and DVDs. Get your collection booked in to clear some space in your home and help our planet.
Why donate with us
Why donate your CDs, DVDs and games with us?
Free, and you don’t leave home
No car boot full of boxes, and no charity shop that has no room for more discs. Leave your bags out and get on with your day. There’s no fee for a collection, ever.
Most of it is used again
Every bag is sorted by hand at our warehouse. Discs that can be played again are passed on, and most of the rest is recycled. See the journey.
You choose the charity
RSPCA, Action for Children, Together for Short Lives or Advance, or plant trees with Ecologi. A large percentage of the proceeds goes to your chosen cause.
It helps people too
Second-hand films, music and games cost far less than new, and the work of sorting them creates local jobs. Read who do my CDs and DVDs help?
Areas we cover
Where Can We Collect CD & DVD Donations Near You?
Our doorstep collections are available across most of England and South Wales. It can be a hassle to find donation drop offs near you, especially when you have to donate different items at different locations. Our service allows you to donate all the different items you have for donation directly from your front doorstep.
Most areas have a collection every week or every fortnight. Enter your postcode when you book to see your next dates, or find your county on areas we cover. Many councils also work with us, and you can read how those partnerships work on council partnerships.
Green postcode = Area we cover
Here are just some of the main areas we have regular collections in…
- Bath
- Birmingham
- Brighton
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Coventry
- Exeter
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
- Oxford
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Sheffield
- Southampton
- Sunderland
- Swindon
- York
And many more places in between, in towns and the countryside alike.
One collection
Clear out more than discs
Got other things to give as well? We collect them in the same visit, from the same doorstep, free of charge.
To find out what to do with your old books, click here. Following on from books, we also collect kitchenware, find out more here to see how you can donate your kitchenware & book your collection to have them picked up.
Questions
Questions people ask about CD and DVD collections
Do I need to be at home?
No. Leave your bags or boxes out by 7am on your collection day and the driver will pick them up. If they can’t be left outside, you can tell us when you book that they’re in the porch, or ask the driver to knock.
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no charge for a collection. We pay for it from the sale of what you donate, and a large percentage of the proceeds goes to the charity you choose.
Can I give scratched or damaged discs?
Yes. We sort every disc by hand. Discs that can be played again go to new homes, and damaged ones are recycled.
Do you take video games?
Yes. Old console and computer games are welcome in the same collection. There is more on donating video games.
Do you take VHS tapes, cassettes or records?
No. We can’t take VHS or cassette tapes, records or record players, or CD and DVD racks.
How many bags can I put out?
As many as you have from a normal clear-out. If you have more than 20 bags or boxes, tell us when you book so we can make sure the van has room.
What if it rains?
Use strong bags and tie them closed, or leave them in a porch if you have one. Wet cases and inserts spoil quickly, so keeping them dry really matters.
Can I book a collection for tomorrow?
If we are collecting near you tomorrow, yes. Tomorrow’s collections stay open until 4pm today. Enter your postcode on the booking page to see your dates.
Can I change or cancel my collection?
Yes. Use the “Manage my booking” link in your confirmation email, sign in to My Account, or use the Anglo Doorstep app.
More answers are on our frequently asked questions page.
Ready to donate your CDs, DVDs and games?
It’s free, you don’t need to be at home, and you choose the charity your donation supports.