Cassette Tapes
Do not place cassette tapes in recycling. The film tape is a tangler that gets wound around the machines at recycling facilities. Recycle at a special drop off.
Cassette tapes should never be placed in your curbside recycling.
The film tape is a "tangler" that jams the sorting machines at the material recovery facility (MRF) and the hard outer shell is not recoverable or recyclable in a curbside collection.
Cuyahoga County residents can recycle unwanted cassette tapes at the Solid Waste District. The District accepts these items year-round at 4750 East 131 Street in Garfield Heights. Drop items off in the lobby during business hours Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Look for the labeled collection bin. No bags or boxes in the recycling bin, please. Place items loose in our lobby drop box and take all bags, boxes and containers home with you.
Acceptable materials include video home system (VHS), audio cassette tapes, digital audio tape (DAT), digital linear tape (DLT), beta, digibeta, VHS-C, HI-8 and mini-DV. Items are recycled by Greendisk. The company offers a mail-back service recycling program.
Learn more about recycling programs at the Solid Waste District.
Locally, specialized plastics recyclers may also be willing to accept the hard plastic outer shell for a small fee. You would be required to remove the film first. The film tape cannot be recycled and must be disposed in the trash. Contact Northcoast Recycling Specialists in Wickliffe or Secure IT Asset Disposition Services in Mentor.
If you choose not to recycle your tapes, place them in the regular trash for disposal.
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Looking to recycle, donate or dispose of other items? Use the dark blue 'What Do I Do With?' search bar at the top of every page of this website. Allow location services or use the city drop-down to find opportunities in your local area.