Streaming has firmly taken over as the preferred method of watching movies and TV shows.
Some of us have forgotten there was a time when DVDs were the only way to watch a film.
And with so many of them piling up on a shelf or stored in a box somewhere, it may be time to do something with those old DVDs.
You ought to think of what to do with the old DVDs and clear them off your shelf.
Now throwing them into the trash isn’t an option considering the impact it would have on the environment.
Currently, the world is suffering a surge in e-waste.
With the rise of technology, gadgets are being purchased and thrown out faster than ever before.
A staggering 50 were generated in a year with only 20 percent of them processed properly.
This results in huge amounts of toxic chemicals being released into the land, water, and air resulting in contamination and posing health risks to humans.
For that reason, we have come to your rescue with this guide on ideas on how to dispose of your old DVDs or creatively repurpose them.
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What to do with old DVDs: Creative and practical ideas
There is always something you can do with your old DVDs.
That’s why we have come up with these 10 creative and practical ideas on what to do with old DVDs.
Say goodbye to the piles of old DVDs filling up your shelves and make way for a more organized, clutter-free living space.
1. Sell them
Now that movies are available on streaming, you may not need your DVD library anymore.
Find out if any second-hand movie shops in your area would be willing to buy the DVDs of your choice.
Of course, you should be prepared to take a hit on the price.
Alternatively, you could sell them online through Amazon or eBay.
Just go to the website and create an account and post details of the listings such as a description of the DVDs and a price tag.
Now we can’t promise that it’ll be easy to get a buyer but rest assured that it is possible.
However, success will depend on factors such as the condition of the DVDs and rarity.
Rarity is especially important when trying to sell a collection of DVDs.
People will most likely be interested in rare and hard-to-find DVDs, for instance.
Once you have found a buyer, it is time to pack up the DVDs and find the nearest post office.
2. Turn DVDs into wall art or decor
This is one of the best ways to repurpose old DVDs and make them look stylish.
A simple piece of wall art can be drawn using the DVD cover with some acrylic paste and a black marker to make it look more appealing.
Begin by cutting the DVD in half, tape it to a sheet of paper, and draw the design you want.
Next, cut out the art from the paper and paste it onto an old frame.
You can be as creative as you like on this part.
In terms of decorating, it can be done in your bedroom or even on your living room wall.
To be more creative, check out the cool designs you can create using DVDs.
It’s quite easy to make a DVD wall using a few pieces of cardboard.
All you have to do is cut out the shape you want for your wall and tape it on the wall with some removable tape or whiteboard pins.
You can always change it around at any time with one simple swap.
3. Give your unused DVDs to a local library
You may have DVDs that you have never even watched and are tired of looking at them.
If that’s the case, check to see if there is a library close to you that would be willing to take the DVDs off your hands.
You’ll find that most local libraries keep a collection of old DVDs to make movies available to their members.
You can even call your local library and set up a time to drop off the DVDs.
Most libraries allow you to take any number of DVDs for donation.
That said, visit or call the library first to ensure they don’t already have some of the DVDs you want to dispose of.
They’ll gladly accept good quality DVDs with little scratches or other problems.
You are encouraged to make sure that the scratches are not too big and won’t affect the playability of the DVDs.
4. Use DVD for mosaic art projects
Taking a DVD and cutting it into small pieces is one way to make mosaic art.
All you have to do is decide on the design you want, lay the pieces in free space and glue them together with some gel medium or resin.
Once completed, it can be hung up as art on your wall or even set up in your garden as part of an outdoor sculpture.
So before throwing out that old DVD, try giving it another life as a mosaic.
You can be creative and make it look as good as you want by changing the design.
For instance, use a green background for a landscape mural or draw something bold on your wall with vibrant colors and designs.
5. Give them to the kids for art and craft projects
Kids are more creative than ever and love to think outside the box.
A great way to get them involved in making some cool stuff is to give them your old DVDs for art and craft projects.
There are many ways to get creative with old DVDs.
The kids will love it when they get creative with their old DVDs and create something unique out of them.
For instance, they can use the discs as a canvas to paint on or as a base for doing some cool art projects.
Afterward, keep them and use them as wall art in the kid’s room or stick them on a piece of cardboard and display it in the living room.
Search online for more ideas on how to use old DVDs with children and be creative with them.
Recycle old DVDs
Recycling is an excellent way of reducing the amount of waste you produce.
Starting with your old DVDs, you should know that there are two different types of recycling when it comes to plastics: recycling for reuse which involves putting the plastic back into the production cycle, and recycling for energy, which consists in burning the plastic materials to generate electricity.
It is imperative to choose the correct way of recycling when it comes to DVDs.
Make sure that you recycle them properly with the appropriate waste solutions for plastics.
Check your area for recycling centers and how you can take old DVDs for recycling.
Some centers might not accept the DVDs themselves but would happily take the plastic casings and booklets.
The casings of the discs may be separated and used in other products while the DVDs themselves might be broken down into plastic bits which are again used in other products.
Donate to Goodwill
Goodwill is a charity that is dedicated to helping people who need a hand up.
If you have old DVDs that you don’t want anymore, why not donate them?
Goodwill will be more than willing to take your old DVDs and put them to use.
You’d be surprised to know some people collect DVDs and would be more than happy to have a new set of DVDs.
You might even get a tax write-off for your donation, so it’s worth looking into that.
Ensure the DVDs are in proper working order before donating them.
This way, Goodwill can ensure that the DVDs are acted to use.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t know what to do with the old DVDs in your possession, don’t worry about it.
Just take your time and think things through.
If you haven’t used them in a while, chances are you probably don’t need them anymore.
Reducing waste is always the best thing to do, so if you are streamlining your DVD collection, then it’s a good idea to let someone else enjoy it.
If you want some advice on how to get rid of your DVDs, then you need to look no further than this article.
You’ll likely learn a thing or two about repurposing DVDs.
FAQs
Are DVDs worth keeping?
They’re not worth keeping if you haven’t used them in a long time.
It’s best to give them to someone else or dispose of them properly.
In that case, you might want to look into donating them to a local charity or even sell them from your home.
Are DVDs dying out?
Streaming websites are a much better way to go when it comes to watching movies and shows.
However, if you still have a DVD collection, then it’s likely you’ll keep them for quite a while.
In that case, be sure to regularly maintain your DVD collection by cleaning and organizing them.
It’s also important to check the condition of your DVDs regularly to make sure they’re in good condition.
