Videotapes. What the blazes do I do with them?

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Not pre-recorded ones, although no one wants those either. But gems I've recorded over the years. Sorting out the huge understairs cupboard and have a packing box containing about 200 tapes. We haven't had a VCR for about 8 years! Can they be recycled in any way or is it just a trip to the tip?

Advertise them on Freecycle or Free for Pick-up on Gumtree - assuming none have dodgy home videos on them of course!

Nothing offensive of course, except perhaps a few series of Birds of a Feather :o

i chucked mine, it broke my heart. what a waste! but what use are they to anyone?!?

You can use them to knit with. It is also possible to recycle them into pencils. No idea how. Sorry.

There is a website called Magix that tells you how to transfer vhs to dvd if you want to keep them.

check with your local council recycle centre first to see if they offer a recycling service. If not, there are companies that you can send them to for recycling such as this one www.ems-europe.co.uk/vhs_recycling.php

My DH ( a bit of a techie wizard) somehow managed to record his beloved One Foot In The Grave episodes/Pink Floyd concerts etc. he just couldn't bear to throw out onto to DVD from VHS. I think he used a special lead, but you do need a VHS recorder as well to hand for this! I just let him get on with it
We won't even mention the LP to recordable CD episode as well - why do we keep all this stuff?