How To Dispose Of Old Vinyl Records

Maybe you spent decades cultivating the perfect record collection, but you're all about Spotify now. Maybe you inherited a family member's cherished record collection but don't share their musical tastes. Or maybe you just went through a brief retro phase because you thought it would be fun to use a record player, but now you're over it.

For whatever reason, a lot of us have old vinyl records sitting around collecting dust. Clearing them out should free up some valuable space in your home, and passing them on in a useful or sustainable way would be a win-win. There are several options for how to dispose of old vinyl records — but alas, they'll ultimately end up at the landfill. At least there are some crafty (or lucrative!) ways for you to get those dusty records off your shelves.

Can I Recycle My Old Vinyl Records?

We all want to do our part for the planet by recycling as much as possible, but tossing things into your recycling bin sometimes does more harm than good. The practice of "wishcycling," or recycling things that you hope can be reused, creates extra work in recycling facilities. Sometimes, legitimate recyclables will end up being sent to the landfill because too much nonrecyclable stuff was mixed into the same load. Vinyl records are an example of something that people might wishcycle.

You might notice that your records are made of plastic and assume you can dispose of them in the same way you recycle milk jugs and other plastic containers. But not all plastics are created equal. There are seven numbered categories for this material. Things like milk jugs and plastic bottles are often made from #1 or #2 plastic, which can be recycled.