Got a Box of Old VHS Tapes? Here's What to Do With Them
If you've recently cleared out the attic, garage, or a relative's house, chances are you've found a stack of VHS tapes gathering dust. You're not alone — millions of households across the UK still have boxes of old tapes with no idea what to do with them.
The good news? You've got options. Here's a practical guide to every sensible thing you can do with your old VHS tapes in 2026.
1. Convert Them to Digital (Before It's Too Late)
This is the most important option if your tapes contain family memories — weddings, birthdays, holidays, first steps, school plays. VHS tapes degrade over time. The magnetic tape inside loses signal quality every year, and most experts estimate VHS tapes have a usable lifespan of 15 to 25 years. If your tapes are from the 80s or 90s, they're already past that window.
A professional conversion service will:
- Play your tapes on broadcast-quality equipment (not a dusty old VCR)
- Digitally restore the footage — correcting colour, stabilising the image, reducing noise
- Deliver your memories as digital files you can watch on any device, share with family, or back up to the cloud
Cost: Professional VHS to digital conversion starts from around £10 per tape. At EachMoment, the process includes free DPD collection and return, professional restoration, and a private cloud album to share with family. Over 1,500 families have rated the service 4.7 out of 5.
Our advice: If you only do one thing on this list, do this. Once a tape degrades past the point of recovery, those memories are gone forever. Convert your VHS tapes to digital while they still play.
2. Check if Any Are Worth Money
Before you recycle or donate, it's worth checking whether any of your tapes have collector value. Certain VHS tapes sell for surprising amounts on eBay:
- Disney Black Diamond editions — early Disney releases in the "Black Diamond" collection (look for a diamond shape on the spine) can sell for £20–£100+
- Horror films — rare horror titles, especially those banned as "video nasties" in the 1980s, are highly collectible
- Sealed or mint condition tapes — any factory-sealed VHS from a major franchise can command premium prices
- Limited releases and ex-rental tapes — tapes with rental shop stickers from extinct chains have a niche following
Search your tape titles on eBay's "sold listings" to see what they've actually fetched. Don't rely on asking prices — only completed sales tell you the real market value.
3. Donate Them
Charity shops increasingly turn away VHS tapes because they're difficult to sell. However, some still accept them:
- Charity shops in smaller towns often have more floor space and still sell VHS
- Care homes and retirement communities — many residents still have VCRs and enjoy browsing familiar films
- Local libraries — some community libraries accept media donations
- Freecycle and Facebook Marketplace — list them for free collection; VHS collectors will often pick up bundles
Important: Only donate commercially recorded tapes (films, TV shows). Home recordings have no value to strangers and shouldn't be donated — they should be converted to digital or securely disposed of.
4. Recycle Them Properly
VHS tapes cannot go in your household recycling bin. The tape inside is made of mylar coated with magnetic oxide, and the casing is a mix of plastic types. Putting them in general recycling contaminates the batch.
Here's how to recycle them properly in the UK:
- Local recycling centres (HWRCs) — most council tip sites accept VHS tapes in their small electricals or general waste sections. Check your council's website first.
- Specialist recyclers — companies like Recycling Your IT and VHS Recycling UK accept bulk shipments of tapes
- Terracycle — offers zero-waste boxes where you can send mixed media for recycling (at a cost)
If you can't find a recycling option nearby, VHS tapes go in your general waste bin — not recycling. It's not ideal, but it's better than contaminating recyclable materials.
5. Repurpose or Upcycle
If you're crafty, VHS tapes and their cases can be turned into:
- Planters — VHS cases make quirky small plant pots
- Storage containers — the cases are ideal for organising small items
- Retro décor — stacked VHS tapes make great 80s/90s themed displays
- Art projects — the tape itself can be woven, braided, or used in mixed media art
Pinterest and YouTube are full of VHS upcycling ideas if you want inspiration.
6. Destroy Them Securely (When Needed)
If your tapes contain sensitive or personal content that you don't want to keep but also don't want anyone else to see, you should destroy them securely:
- Pull out the magnetic tape and cut it into pieces with scissors
- Separate the tape from the cassette shell
- Dispose of the tape in general waste and the plastic shell at a recycling centre
This is mainly relevant for home recordings, old business training videos, or anything you wouldn't want found in a charity shop.
What NOT to Do With Old VHS Tapes
- Don't put them in the recycling bin — they'll contaminate the batch
- Don't burn them — VHS tapes release toxic fumes when burned
- Don't throw away home recordings without checking them first — you might be throwing away irreplaceable family footage
- Don't assume a charity shop wants them — call ahead before dropping off boxes of tapes
The Bottom Line
The single most valuable thing you can do with old VHS tapes is save whatever's on them. Commercial films can be replaced — your family's home videos cannot. If those tapes have been sitting in an attic for 20+ years, the footage quality is degrading right now.
Professional VHS to digital conversion starts from £10 per tape, includes free collection and delivery, and gives you digital files you can watch, share, and keep forever. It takes 2 minutes to order and about 2 weeks to get your memories back — restored and ready to watch on any device.
Don't wait until the tape has degraded beyond recovery. Order a Memory Box and get those memories saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thing to do with old VHS tapes?
It depends on what is on the tape. If they contain family memories, the best option is to digitise your VHS tapes before getting rid of the physical copies. For commercial films, you can donate them, recycle them, or sell rare titles to collectors.
Can you throw VHS tapes in the bin?
You technically can put them in general waste, but it is not environmentally friendly — the plastic casing and magnetic tape take centuries to decompose. Instead, take them to your local household waste recycling centre, which usually has specialist disposal for this type of waste.
Where can I donate VHS tapes in the UK?
Many charity shops still accept donations of commercially produced VHS tapes, particularly classic films and box sets. You can also offer them for free on community platforms like Freecycle, Gumtree, or local Facebook groups.
Are old VHS tapes worth anything?
Most standard VHS tapes have little monetary value, but rare editions, sealed copies, and certain cult classics can be highly sought after by collectors. Check completed listings on eBay to see if any of your tapes are fetching a high price before giving them away.
Can VHS tapes be recycled at UK recycling centres?
Standard kerbside recycling bins do not accept VHS tapes because the long magnetic tape can tangle and damage sorting machinery. However, most local household waste recycling centres have specific WEEE skips where you can safely drop them off.