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Things That You Can Do With Old VHS Tapes 2023

Akshay Verma

December 2, 2023

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Things That You Can Do With Old VHS Tapes

Things That You Can Do With Old VHS Tapes: In today’s world of online platforms, there are so many people who might remember the popularity and craze of VHS tapes. Just two decades ago, VHS tapes were among the most important things to have. You most likely have a collection of VHS cassettes stashed away in your cupboards, storerooms, garages, or basements if you were a child during the 1980s or 1990s. 

These tapes are very hard to dispose of as they have a maximum of 1410 feet of tape in one single cassette. Several of these are likely to be home movies of your children or records of family gatherings like weddings.

When these VHS tapes contain so many precious memories, it is not easy to let them go or simply throw them away. If this is the case, then you can opt for different things that you can do with old VHS tapes. Let’s discuss the need to get rid of old VHS Tapes and several ways in which you can do so.

Also Read: How To Digitize Film Photos?

Need To Discard VHS Tapes 

It is crucial to understand the reasons you have before discarding your cassettes. This will help you decide what the best course of action is. Throwing away cassettes that include treasured family memories or recordings that could be invaluable on the open market is not a good idea. Mentioned here are some reasons why people feel the need to discard their VHS tapes. 

• You might wish to tidy up your home and get rid of any clutter. 
• It is possible that all the tapes are damaged and of no use.
• VCR players are essential to playing VHS cassettes, so if you do not have one, you might need to get rid of these VHS tapes.
• If you have digitized all the tapes or have a duplicate of them, then you are going to discard them. 
• In case the tapes are blank and you simply do not want them to take up extra space at your home. 

What To Do With Old VHS Tapes (Things That You Can Do With Old VHS Tapes)

Here are some interesting tips and ways that will be super interesting and helpful to declutter those old VHS tapes:

#1. Digitization of the VHS tapes: Family recollections are crucial to passing on to the next generation, and simply because you do not have working VCRs does not mean you cannot save the memories. By converting your old VHS tapes to digital format, you may share old family films with loved ones and friends online.

Those tender times would not want to be forgotten. You will definitely want them to be cherished forever. Any of your VHS mementos can be digitally preserved with several digitization service providers so that you can always have those recollections. 

#2. DIY ideas: VHS tapes are large and unwieldy, but you can still use them for a variety of inventive and interesting upcycling projects. Check out some simple VHS tape crafts to make use of your videos and simply give them a try. For a retro-themed party, you might make neon lights or lease a theatrical space. Also, it is possible to create Halloween decorations and costumes. Some more things that you can make include:

• Lights 
• Storage containers 
• Gift Decorations 
• Wristbands

#3. Sell the VHS tapes: There has been much internet buzz recently regarding vintage Disney VHS tapes fetching hundreds of dollars. Sadly, the majority of these types of listings on eBay are merely frauds. In fact, there are thousands of postings for classic Disney VHS cassettes from the years 1984 to 1994 that are labeled as part of the “Black Diamond Collection” right now on eBay.

The majority of them are offered for less than $25, and occasionally they are even sold for less than the price of shipping. But it might still be worthwhile to sell the recordings online if you want to make a little more money.

The various marketplaces at which you can sell the VSH tapes are as follows:

• eBay
• OfferUp
• LetGo
• Facebook Marketplace
• Freecycle
• Craigslist

#4. Recycling: If you are particularly keen on recycling VHS cassettes, you should be aware that every state and municipality has its own requirements and rules regarding recycling electronic waste. However, since VHS cassettes are regarded as electronic waste, you generally cannot dispose of them in the trash or recycle them.

The magnetic tape strip coating on the movie leaves a toxic residue, and the tapes are made of plastic, which doesn’t decompose in landfills. The recycling services that you can choose from include the following:

• GreenDisk
• TerraCycle 
• Goodwill
• United Electronic Recycling  

Also Read: Is Steam Inhalation Good for Asthma?

Tips While Discarding Old VHS Tapes 

When you are going to discard or reuse old VHS tapes, you are required to keep a few things in mind. Here are some of them:

1. Check Content: Before discarding the tapes, go through them properly,  as they might contain any sentimental or valuable content. Consider simply transferring important recordings and content into digital format. 
2. Data Backup: If you want to avoid losing any of your precious memories, transfer them to computerized data. This conversion can be aided by services or tools.
3. Recycling Centers: Locate nearby recycling centers that accept VHS tapes. Some centers are especially known for e-waste disposal and ensure proper recycling as well.
4. Eco-Friendly Disposal: It is your responsibility to minimize any environmental impact caused by disposing of these tapes. It must also be avoided to throw them in standard dustbins and trash bins. 
5. Donation: Consider donating tapes to thrift stores, libraries, or collectors who might appreciate the content or the nostalgia.
6. Secure Data: If there is any sensitive or confidential content in the tapes, then you are required to destroy them properly. Some sort of shredding or data destruction service can be a great help. 
7. Upcycling: Get creative by repurposing VHS tapes into art or functional items like bookends or decorations.
8. Digital Archiving: To prevent loss of information, keep digital backups in different locations using external drives or cloud-based storage.
9. Local Regulations: To prevent paying any penalties or fees, be informed of local rules regarding the disposal of waste electronics.
10. Minimalist Approach: Keep only the tapes that truly hold value to minimize clutter and optimize space.
11. Documentation: If the tapes contain important historical information, make a copy of what is on them prior to their disposal. 
12. Privacy Concerns: Before throwing anything away, delete any private recordings or data.

FAQs: Things That You Can Do With Old VHS Tapes

Final Thoughts – Things That You Can Do With Old VHS Tapes

If you also have a stack of old VHS tapes and want to declutter your house, then do not simply dispose of them. Think about the Things That You Can Do With Old VHS Tapes variety of possibilities that exist to offer your VHS cassettes another chance before you throw them away.

Prior to submitting them to a composting service, look into digitizing them, as they have been packed with precious family memories. If not, do consider using them as enjoyable DIY projects or selling them on online classifieds. There are countless options that you can opt for, making it versatile.