As we all switch over to ipods and MP3’s cd’s are being ditched at an amazing rate – around 2,500 tonnes of CDs are thrown away every year – that’s 5.5 Million boxes of DVDs and CDs in a year!
The best way to recycle your music cd’s and DVD’s is to sell them yourself, let someone else get enjoyment from them instead by taking them to a car boot sale or sticking them on ebay or tradin them in at a local or online store and make yourself a few quid while recycling!
Most charity shops will accept cds and there are now a number of CD recycling and re-processing companies in the UK who will accept your used CDs (burned data as well as music)
Recordable and re-recordable CDs have up to 20 milligrams gold within them that can be removed, some companies can even remove the very thin data layer (the silver layer that the information is burned onto) and reuse or recycle the plastic disc that is left.
CD’s are nearly all 100% recyclable!
- over 2500 tonnes of CDs are thrown away each year
Once delivered to the processing plant they are separated from their cases and paper inserts, the paper is sent off to a paper recycling plant and the jewel cases have any contaminants removed and are turned into pellets that can be used in a number of applications.
The actual CD disks have any paint and metals removed – these are either separated and reused or turned into insulation materials – and are then ground up and turned into high grade polycarbonate granules that can be used to create new items.