How can I reuse or recycle audio cassette tapes?
I’ve recently been clearing out loads of old stuff from my obsessive teen fandom of a certain, ahem, fluffy-haired band. Ebay is currently in the process of loving me because I’m halfway there, selling my previously collected tshirts, vinyl and assorted memorabilia. (Some might even say, I’m living on a prayer with all the proceeds.)
Given my obsession started before I got a cd player in my bedroom, I bought all their early albums on cassette tapes and just about stretched them to breaking point with repeat playing. While the vinyl has lasted – and sold – well, I fear the cassette tapes are beyond the point of passing them on to someone else.
So what else can I do with them? Is the tape reusable? And if so, any ideas?
Best Suggestions
- Pass Them On: Some people still use them – for both listening to and recording – so it’s probably worth checking to see whether your local charity/thrift shop still accepts them or offering them on Freecycle. Some charities also collect them for reuse for recording spoken newsletters and the like – see the comments below.
- Reuse: Tapes are very retro-stylish at the moment and people are using the plastic bits to make belt buckles, bags and other decorations. The tape can be knitted or crocheted too.
- Recycle: The tapes are electronic waste so they should be collected by your local authority in their e-waste bins.
- See the comments below for more suggestions and ideas
(Photo by tijmen)
Does anyone need / want / recycle my old cassettes? Haven’t got many at the moment but am having a bit of a clear out. Please someone take them from me so I don’t have to throw them away!!
Thanks,
Penni
Hi,
I am Morgane, French student at London College of Communication. For a school project I need hundreds of audio cassette tapes. I know it’s been a while you have posted this comment but maybe you still have your cassettes?
If you do and you live in London or not to far away I can come over to collect them.
Thank you very much,
Morgane
Hi Morgane,
You just posted your message today about audio tapes and I have quite a few I need to get rid of probably 15 or 20, not pre-recorded but I have myself put things on them that you can easily record over. Hope this helps. I live in Dorking in Surrey (about 45 mins from Waterloo).
Kind regards,
Charlotte
Hi Morgane,
I’ve got quite a few audio cassette tapes (recorded by me and pre-recorded) that you could have. I am in Cambridge, about 1 hour drive from North London. If you are interested give me your contact and I will get in touch.
Best, Beatrice
Morgane,
I have about 30 cassette tapes that I am happy to post to you if you can submit an address to post to (yours or the colleges).
Regards
Naomi
Hi Morgane,
I’ve got quite a few as well. I live in Amsterdam but come to London frequently. Do you have an address I can post these to? Can I send them to you c/o the College?
Thanks
Paula
Hi Morgane
I can see that you have already had a number of replies to your request for audio tapes. I have about 200 that can be recorded over. My daughter lives near London and so will take them home with her in the next few days if you are interested. Can you therefore let me know as soon as you can.
Marian Harries
Do you still need any more cassette tapes by now? If so, I live in North London and have around about 80 if that’s of any interest. Let me know.
Best wishes
Eileen
Hi, Morgane.
I have a few tapes that I can send to you? I am in Portugal, but my sister lives in London and comes here often, I can ask her to take it with her the next time she visits Portugal. When do you need the tapes?
Fernando
f-gomes@netcabo.pt
Hi Morgane,
We have a few dozen tapes and live in London. Please let us know if you still need some.
Kind regards,
Brad
Hi
I know this is a really long shot, but does anyone still have a use for the cassette tapes. I work in London so easy to deliver.
My email is: sarahcoopernz@yahoo.com
Many thanks,
Sarah
I have loads of pre- recorded cassette tapes, mainly French ones which you are welcome to have. I live in Cheltenham.
Hi, I have a whole box full of old used cassette tapes, if you would like them I am based in chiswick west london, you are welcome to collect them
cheers
Denise
Morgane – do you still need them and if so, do you need them intact, ie with their plastic outer case and card insert? I’ve just separated all of mine in preparation for recycling. I’m not in London – I’m in South Wales, but if I could get them to you reasonably cheaply I’d rather do that then see them go to landfill. Let me know if you still need them. anita@writing-services.co.uk
Hello!
Did you find the cassette tapes you needed? I would be happy to ship them to you. Email me at fireshaman@earthlink.net.
Tamara
Some wallets, belt buckles etc made from cassette tapes here
http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/cassettes.html
You can recycle 5 or 10 of your favorite cassettes with the Cassette Mp3 Recycle Package!
Choose 5 or 10 of your favorite classic cassette tapes from your old tape collection and enjoy the great music that you have not played in years! Just send them to us for conversion and you will receive The Cassette Mp3 Player (2 GB SD card included) with all tracks converted into mp3 files ready to be played on your old cassette player. In addition, all cassettes will be recycled by using Green Disk.
After your purchase, we will contact you shortly with details on where to send your cassettes for conversion and recycling.
Visit http://www.cassettemp3player.com for more information.
Hi folks I am very pleased to say that due to your recycle efforts I have been able to help out a Birmingham arts project with audio tapes for a family arts day….a nice thought that they will again be used instead of being dumped as so many already have!
Hello Nigel, I gave you some slides a while ago; I am now clearing out lots of audio cassettes! Can you use any more of these ?
janemeesters@hotmail.com
Hi Jane we have quite a few for our needs now thanks to this great site and the people like you who read the comments left so for the time being I would say try other folk for a while.but thanks any way and thanks again for the slides which we are sorting and using already.
Hi Jane just got your message regarding audio tapes, no at the mo we have enough for our needs thanks to this site and those who visit it but I am sure there would be others who would ………..Nig
hello! just wondering if you still had the cassettes?! just i really need some!!
http://www.greendisk.com
They recycle all sorts of electronic waste. If you pack them up yourself and have less than 20 lbs., it costs $6.95. I think it’s worth it to help the earth.
Morgane – I have about 30 audio tapes (for recording over) which I am happy to post to you if you send an address (I live in Suffolk)Anything other than put them in recycling bin.
H
Hi Morgane
I have a couple of hundred cassettes (mostly ones I recorded in my teens back in the 80′s/90′s) that are doing nothing but gathering dust. If you want them, please submit an address/phone number.
Regards
Imtiaz
Hi Morgane
I have about 50 adio cassette tapes gathering dust. You are welcome to them. Can you supply an address or drop off place? I live in Bedford but my son lives in North London and works in central london so should be able to arrnage drop off to you or pick up by you.
Look forward to hearing from you to svae them going to the skip
Thank you
Frances Andrews
Hi Morgane,
I have about 50 cassettes. Can I drop them off at the College for you?
Cheers,
Elly
I was googling to find out what to do with my cassetes, videos and stacks of free internet cds ive had stored for ages when i found this thread. I also found that my local household recycling site accepts cds, cassete tapes and video tapes so id say check your local website too as they may be able to recycle them.
Heres the link showing all the different things my local site accepts (and i think its the same for all leicesterhsire sites), it does seem to be much better than many others i know
http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/environment/waste/recycling_household_waste_sites/wastesite_loughborough.htm
Hope this helps some people,
Rose
I wish I lived in London, so Morgaine could have my recorded (but can be recorded over) audio cassettes…
SO…. does anyone in the NorthWestern U.S. need audio cassettes to record on… for a school project, for meetings, for anything??!
Hate to throw them away. Have at least 100, probably 200, haven’t counted yet
Julie in Montana USA
LET’s TRY THIS AGAIN, forgot to submit my name and email! Julie is at jrs9@bridgeband.com
here’s the message again:
June 7, 2010 at 1:32 am
I wish I lived in London, so Morgane could have my recorded (but can be recorded over) audio cassettes…
SO…. does anyone in the NorthWestern United States need audio cassettes to record on… for a school project, for meetings, for anything??!
Hate to throw them away. Have at least 100, probably 200, haven’t counted them yet
Julie in Montana USA
I have around 150 cassette tapes, classical, opera and some pop if anyone can use them. Central London – contact henryricard@gmail.com
Hello Fiona,
I’ve got a hundred or so tapes that I can send to you. If you send me your details I’ll post them to you. My e-mail is Misspxx@hotmail.com
Thanks
Paula
Hi,
Does anyone want prerecorded audio or VHS tapes? We have so many of both and I really hate to just put them in a landfill. I live in Surrey. Please get in touch. lauri63050@ntlworld.com
Hi there,
I have a couple of hundred audio cassettes that I’ll take to the council tip unless someone wants them? I live in Birmingham. Send me an email in the next week or so if you’d like them
bkandj@blueyonder.co.uk
Hi Morgan: I have hundreds of exquisitely recorded classical music cassett tapes. My brother is an audiophile and a musician so he had recorded the tapes on superior recording machines. Yours if you want them. I live in W9, Maida Vale area. Leaving for the US 26th August. Hope you can use, otherwise will have to dump them.
Hope to hear from you or anybody else who can pick them up from Maida Vale. contact me at jbvanwagner@aol.com
Like so many others who have posted on this site I have many VHS and audio tapes (a mix of pre-recorded and otherwise) that I want to get rid of but would rather not put in the landfill.
If anyone would like them please contact me: charlotte.walter@gmail.com
I live in SW London.
Thanks
Charlotte