This question was just asked at Grist too (though if yours are not in usable shape anymore their suggestions might not apply):
http://grist.org/advice/ask/2006/07/17/tapes/index.html

plant ties
Rosie

I’ve heard that gardeners use the tape, to tie around branched to scare away birds. They sell a metalic tape in gardening catalogs.

Yes, I do this and it seems to work. I make sure the tape has room to flutter about menacingly :)

The actual plastic tape is good for different uses also. You can use it as twine, tying up newspaper (I don’t know if you are only supposed to use twine to tie up newspaper), etc. You could give yourself a challenge and try to take apart the whole tape and put it together again. The cacth is you have to make sure it can still play perfectly like the way it did before you took it apart.

I’ve heard that Remarkable TM (www.remarkable.co.uk) have pens made from recycled cassetes. Maybe you could give them a bell and donate them to them. You might make a tidy profit and all….

Cindy at http://www.myrecycledbags.com/ has crocheted bags out of old audio cassette tape. A description of the making process and patterns are available from her website - well worth a look if you’re craft-y!

-louisa

Make cool retro belt buckles:

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5328393

http://www.thelaundry.biz/cds

I am having a clear out and wanted to find out the same. If you go to the above web site they say you can simply post them to them and they recycle them! Yay! :-)

how can i get rid of me song cassettes and get sum money back aswell….. any recyclin companys pay 2 buy over 2thousand song cassettes…..please leave me message

If anyone has any old audio cassettes, ill take them off your hands. Im currently doing an art photography project based on the death of cassette culture and am in desperate need of cassettes to shoot. If anyone has any they want to clear out get in touch, syrup_photography.hotmail.com

thanks

Hi Simon - do you still need cassettes or is your project finished? Sue

Actually, give them to a thrifty/charity shop. My husband & I like to add to our music collection inexpensively using the old technology…I am sure others do, too…

Hello everyone,

Really sorry but The Laundry does not accept cassettes or VHS for recycling anymore, just CDs. Sorry about this.

Best wishes,

Harriet

Hi there we re use them for health information and activity tapes we wipe them and clean of the label or any old printing (you can use nail varnish remover)and leave blank or re print!

Send any you dont want to ACT project
West House
Lombard Street West
West Bromwich
B70 8EG. fao N.Self Community Health officer.

Hi Nigel

i am having a clear out and will have some old cassettes to recycle. Is it ok to send them to you?

Louisa

yes by all means as long as it does not cost you too much in postage!
Where are you based? if you want to chat first call me on 0121 612 3396

Are you still accepting audio tapes?

yes I am still wanting any audio tapes any would be of help please send to ACT, West House, Lombard Street West Bromwich B70 8EG. and many thanks………..Nigel

Hi Nig,
here I found you once again in this very interesting and making me feel like 1984, George Orwell,wolrd,
we are all seen by everyone, eithe we put ourselves outside like on myspace or we do any other aciton in the net…..

Hello,
This site looks very promising http://www.greendisk.com/
for recycling all electronical things.
I love that there are so many people who care about recycling!
Here’s to reusing over and over and over . . . . Thanks, Barb

Can the person who sent me the tapes from P10 postcode please read the item on the broken digital camera …………I stuck my message in the wrong section ………it could be important to you! or call me on 0121 612 3396 and leave your number ! thanks…Nigel

Copied here so they don’t have to go hunting for the other message:

nigel self
June 27th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

Hi people some one very kindly sent me some old unwanted audio cassette tapes and on one of them there is a recording of a small child toddler? singing and speaking and I feel this would be important to keep as it is I guess a few years ago now and the child has grown up and as I have recorded stuff of my own children who are now 23 and 25 I am glad I have it saved.
Can you let me know if it could be yours and I will return it for I think if you recognise it it will be great to keep ! it is on a c60 phillips tape from a pe10 post code area with no note inside and it comes in the middle of a Elton John song. Thanks…………Nig

we can use it as decoration .

Many thanks to all you great people who have been sending me your old and unwanted tapes.X

Nigel,

Can you confirm if you’re still looking for old cassette tapes please? If so, do you want just the tapes themselves or boxes too?

many thanks.

Hi Mo, yes we still want both the tapes and the boxes please and for those who have already sent them,they are now being used by the local visual impared group for their newsletter produced in audio format and the talking news paper which goes out to the blind within the local area so thanks again to all who have contacted me and sent me some!

that’s such a great idea thing to do with these tapes. if only i’d heard about it when i threw away my enormous collection three years ago. few more on your way, though.

Hi every one I am now after any old 8mm film reel or any old and unwanted home movie footage on video or film.Also any old photo slides as we need them for a film project we are doing but it has to be your images such as old family stuff as we cannot use any copy written stuff.
Dont matter what of and from where as we will use bits if you know what I mean.
send to me at ACT,West House, Lombard Street West, West Bromwich, west Midlands B70 8EG.

Hi Nigel, are you in England? I live in America and I think it might be expensive to send audio tapes to you, even though I would love to.

Hi Camille, yes I am UK based and yes it would cost unless you could get some kind person who was coming over to bring me some? if you send them in small amounts it would not be too bad but you need to check at the post office and find out.
Have you many?
It is nice to hear from you and read your comments any way x

Hi Nigel

I have some cassette tapes which I can send to you. It’s great to be able to put them to good use. Do you have any use for old video tapes - or if not, does anyone know of anyone who might want them.

Thanks

Alison

[…] who uses old audio tapes for community health projects, has put this request on the audio cassette tape page and I thought it was worth featuring more prominently: Hi everyone, I am now after any old 8mm […]

Nigel,

What is ACT and what do you do?

action for community health team they forgot to use the H !
we are an out reach health promotion unit doing hands on practical projects to help the local people in any way to aid their health and well being…..it covers a wide area of work from giving out info to creating and funding allotments/small gardens…..and we support many other projects and agencies who work toward the same aim.
Hope this helps………….Nigel

Hi Nigel- I have about 150 audio cassettes- is it ok to send them? Some are prerecorded- is that ok? It would be great if you can have them!!
Also do you know where I can get rid of old video cassettes- both prerecorded and blank ones?
Thanks Nikki

Yes by all means send them to me and any prerecorded and blank video tapes as we can also use them………..

Hi Nigel
Is there anyway that I can get a box to you without the cost of mailing?
I regularly have cassettes and boxes as I have just started to collect for a charity who only want C60 & C90 tapes.
This is my 3rd week doing it and already I have 2 carrier bags of tapes but less than a small shoe box full of the tapes that they actually want and when researching what to do with the surplus, I found you.
Obviously charity begins at home! whilst I am happy to collect and store them, the potential volume is too much for me to mail.
I am based near Watford, Herts or NW London (Wembley) for work.

yes there may well be a way cll me when you have a min on 0121 612 3396 leave a message and your number for me if I am out and I will call you back and we can sort out another way.

Thanks for getting back to me Nigel.
I am delighted that you seem to want these cassettes and cases!
I will keep them and call you when I have a box.
Regards

Hi Nigel
Have left a couple of messages. Are you still collecting audio cassettes. I have a large bag full. If there’s a way to collect that would be great. I’m in Wimbledon area of London.
David