Why Old CDs and DVDs Shouldn’t Go in the Bin
Most old CDs and DVDs still play perfectly well, but household recycling rarely takes them. A disc thrown in the bin is simply wasted, along with its case and everything it took to make. Here is why discs don’t belong in the bin, and how donating them keeps them in use. Our free collection is explained in our guide to donating CDs, DVDs and games.
Still working
Most discs still play
With so many streaming services, most households no longer use their CDs and DVDs. They take up space and collect dust. Most of these discs aren’t going unused because they’re broken. They go unused because their owners now stream instead.
A disc doesn’t wear out from sitting on a shelf. The film, album or game on it is just as good as the day it was bought. Someone else would happily watch it, listen to it or play it.
The recycling bin
Why your recycling bin won’t take them
Most councils don’t offer CD and DVD recycling, so discs rarely belong in your kerbside recycling bin. Too often they end up in general waste instead.
That is partly down to what a disc is made of. A CD or DVD is mostly polycarbonate plastic with a thin layer of aluminium, and the case is usually polystyrene plastic. These materials can be recycled, but they need to be separated first, and household recycling isn’t set up to do that.
Out of sight
What is lost when a disc goes in the bin
A disc in the bin doesn’t just disappear.
The plastic doesn’t rot
CDs and DVDs are made mainly from plastic and are not biodegradable. Buried in landfill, they stay there for a very long time.
The case goes too
Every disc thrown away usually takes its plastic case and printed sleeve with it. That is more material wasted, all of it still usable.
So does what’s on it
A film a family would have watched, an album someone was looking for, a game a child would have loved. Once it is binned, nobody gets to enjoy it.
And what it took to make
Making a disc and its case takes plastic, metal and energy. Throw away one that still plays and all of that is lost, and a new one may be made to replace it.
The answer
How donating stops it
Keep discs in use for as long as possible. Every bag that goes into a collection van instead of the bin is a pile of films, music and games that can be enjoyed again.
Gather up the discs you’ve finished with
CDs, DVDs and game discs, ideally in their cases. Pack them in bags or boxes a driver can lift.
Book a free collection
Choose your date and your charity, then leave them out by 7am. You don’t need to be in. The full steps are on how do I donate my CDs and DVDs?
Bin nothing that could be played again
Not sure whether something counts? Check what CDs, DVDs and games can I donate?
Back at our warehouse, we sort every donation by hand. We pass on most of what can be played again. Discs that can’t be, such as damaged ones, go for recycling instead of the bin. You can follow the whole journey on what happens to my CDs and DVDs?
Reuse comes first because it saves the most. To see why, read how donating CDs and DVDs helps the planet. To get a rough figure for your own shelf, try the green calculator.
Not just films
It isn’t only DVDs
The same goes for every kind of disc on the shelf. Some are especially sought after second-hand, so they are well worth passing on:
- Music CDs and albums
- Children’s films
- Educational films
- Box sets and film collections
- Video game discs for consoles and computers
- Rare and retro discs
We can’t take VHS or cassette tapes, records or CD and DVD racks. If you’re clearing a shelf, books can go in the same collection. See everything we collect for the full list.
Every day
Small changes that add up
- Keep discs in their cases so they stay clean and playable.
- Pass on films, music and games you’ve finished with while they still play.
- Buy second-hand discs and games when you can.
- Clear the shelf once a year, and put anything you haven’t played aside to donate.
Your discs help people as well as the planet. They let people enjoy films, music and games for less, and a large percentage of the proceeds goes to the charity you choose. Read more on who do my CDs and DVDs help?
Related reading
More on donating discs and games
- Donate CDs, DVDs and games: how our free doorstep collection works
- What happens to my CDs and DVDs after collection
- How donating CDs and DVDs helps the planet
- Frequently asked questions
Got discs ready to pass on? Find your area on charity collections near you and book a free doorstep collection.
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.