Old videos?

doctor evil

Hello everybody.

Does anyone know if videos can be recycled?

probe

doctor evil wrote: »

Hello everybody.

Does anyone know if videos can be recycled?

What is your objective - disposal of the physical product only or transferring the content to a hard drive in case your old VCR breaks down and can't be repaired/replaced?

doctor evil

TBH they are mostly old children films, I don't think there is anything there to be saved. Except for 'Star Wars' for my mum.

Our VCR broke down and was recycled a while ago. The box of videos is taking up space.

Mahatma coat

....children films...

:eek::eek:


<img=Chris Hansen>
why dont you just take a seat over there


:D:D:D

doctor evil

Disney films!

probe

Is it not basically a job for plastics recycling? The cassette is plastic and the tape is plastic and Fe. One suspects that there will be an increasing amount of this stuff to recycle as peoples' VCRs break down, and as they move to hard drives and the internet for videos. Not to mention HDTV.

DVDs are equally a waste of space. I just copy them onto my media server hard drive system and can watch a video on TV or on a PC anywhere at home over the network.

If DVD's get scratched, you can no longer play the DVD. Yet another reason for all fibre optic internet connections to download HD content directly.

Of course one can't archive DVDs on a media server and recycle the DVD/BD - because any day now the EU will pass a directive allowing warrant-less police searches of your house to check people's media servers for illegal copies of videos. If you don't keep the original DVD to prove license ownership (taking up space and gathering dust) there will be a EUR 300,000 fine + imprisonment for "counterfeiting" (as they have in at least one EU state already).

ttm

probe wrote: »

........ Yet another reason for all fibre optic internet connections to download HD content directly.

So keeping internet servers running 24/7 so we can do without plastic is enviromentally freindly and uses less resourses than just buying the plastic we want to watch? Even if I downloaded all the films I watch leaving a HDD running 24/7 in my home will probably use more resourses in its life time than the plastic it might be replacing.

Judgement Day

Why not drop the videos into your local charity shop? Problem solved and they can sell them for between €1-2 each. One of the best moves I ever made was to mothball the VCR when we got DVD player - as now I have given it a new lease of life for kids movies and even buy old favourites for myself when I see them. Damn sight cheaper than renting from Extravision and the quality is as good, if not better, than a DVD.

ttm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Why not drop the videos into your local charity shop? Problem solved and they can sell them for between €1-2 each. One of the best moves I ever made was to mothball the VCR when we got DVD player - as now I have given it a new lease of life for kids movies and even buy old favourites for myself when I see them. Damn sight cheaper than renting from Extravision and the quality is as good, if not better, than a DVD.

Good idea I got rid of lots of VHS videos in one local charity shop, but I think a lot of charity shops are having a problem selling them as some won't take anymore VHS tapes.

probe

ttm wrote: »

So keeping internet servers running 24/7 so we can do without plastic is enviromentally freindly and uses less resourses than just buying the plastic we want to watch? Even if I downloaded all the films I watch leaving a HDD running 24/7 in my home will probably use more resourses in its life time than the plastic it might be replacing.

That pre-supposes that the servers are running on filthy electricity. My media server consumes 12w and runs on 100% renewable energy.

doctor evil

Some of them are damaged and I would worry that the charity shops won't be able to sell them on. I'd rather deal with them outright than passing the problem on.

biko

You can try to give them away for free on jumbletown, freecycle or adverts?
Donate the working ones to a homeless shelter?

Or ring your local recycling centre, they might know.

Thoushaltnot

Judgement Day wrote: »

Why not drop the videos into your local charity shop? Problem solved and they can sell them for between €1-2 each. One of the best moves I ever made was to mothball the VCR when we got DVD player - as now I have given it a new lease of life for kids movies and even buy old favourites for myself when I see them. Damn sight cheaper than renting from Extravision and the quality is as good, if not better, than a DVD.

+1
My bro mentioned that he still had an old fashioned VCR so I pounced on a tonne of Thomas the Tank Engine and Vintage Train vids for his yung f'la, in charity shops for half nothing. All round win.

Gardening tip from the radio. Didn't hear it all but I think they were referring to audio cassette tapes rather than VHS. Anyhow, you take the magnetic tape out, tie it here and there and use it to scare off birds when you plant seeds.
But if you're pushed about retrieving content, I believe there are tutorials on YouTube on how to fix 'em.

netwhizkid

probe wrote: »

Of course one can't archive DVDs on a media server and recycle the DVD/BD - because any day now the EU will pass a directive allowing warrant-less police searches of your house to check people's media servers for illegal copies of videos. If you don't keep the original DVD to prove license ownership (taking up space and gathering dust) there will be a EUR 300,000 fine + imprisonment for "counterfeiting" (as they have in at least one EU state already).

I'd be interested in links about this, I have a whole corner of the attic filled with old junk like this. I'm very interested in the EU future directive info as per my sig.