Can you recycle vhs & cassette tapes?
🚫 Not recyclable
General waste — the tape inside is metallised plastic film no one recycles.
VHS and audio cassettes are a recycling dead end: the shells are mixed plastic and the miles of tape are 'tangler' contamination. A few specialist mail-in firms shred them for a fee; otherwise general waste. Home movies: digitise before you bin!
Tips
- Digitisation services will transfer home videos first — do it before disposal
Which bin does it go in?
General waste — the tape inside is metallised plastic film no one recycles.
Before throwing it away, see reuse, repair and donation routes.
Background: What goes in each household bin?.
Also searched as: video tapes, cassettes, camcorder tapes.
✓ Checked against current UK guidance: 14 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?