Recycling old CDs

Having a bit of a tidy-up, I now have a pile of old CD-ROMs - the sort of thing they used to give away on the front of computer magazines "back in the day". Very few, if any, of the programs contained on them are much use these days, so it's chucking out time for them.

Anyone got any ideas for alternative uses (keep it clean!) or do any of you know if they can be put into the normal plastic recycling bin (also applies to the cases the come in)?

Thanks,

Rob

Many areas will not take cd's/dvd's in the recycling bin even though they are 100% recyclable. Recycle

Check on your local council website.

Hang a few in the garden to deter foxes/badgers & the like. They do not like things that reflect light when moving in a breeze. Can be used as coasters on the worktops.

regards

I use them as separators for horizontal mill cutters, slitting saws etc.

I think there was a Tesla turbine project on Utube used a stack of them for a rotor.

Martin

I wonder how they would go at a clay pigeon shoot ?

Martin's idea is a winner, never thought of that.

You can actually make an hot air engine out of them. Not just the flywheel but also pistons and displacers. |Can't remember the details but there must be a picture in an old ME| of one at an exhibition.

Bird scarers in the garden -

Old CDs hung up on strings,

These are a pigeon' least favourite things.

Dick

Thanks chaps, some good ideas there - I'm particularly drawn to the Stirling engine, as I don't have any milling cutters, nor any badgers. And it's a good fifteen years since I did any clay-shooting.

Rob

Some of them make useful mirrors - I have one on the front of the pillar of my Myford VMB vertical mill, so I can see what's happening at the back of the setting-up or milling operation.

Plastic is Polycarbonate. Had numerous arguments with 'Jobsworths' at local recycling centre over what plastics are recyclable. If it melts when heat is applied it can be recycled. Whether recyclers can be bothered to segregate different types is another argument. Although local R/C used to have a separate bin for plastics, everything is now thrown into 'General Waste bin'

Regards Ian.

Recyclable plastics, aluminium and steel cans, glass and cardboard all go in our green bin now. Difficult to know sometimes exactly which plastics can go in there as some are either unmarked or difficult to read.

We do the same here. Our recycling bin takes anything considered recyclable. Including black & brown plastics.However where the inlaws live there is very little they can recycle. Only the usual paper clear food containers & milk cartons. No glass ali foil etc.

A GOOD RECYCLING TIP> Tesco take most cling film, food wrapping, pouches, the film from the top of plastic food containers & bubble wrap in most of their superstores. The wife takes a bag down every week when doing the shop. They turn it into shopping bags for life apparently. Amazing how much there is to recycle.

regards

As an addition to my post above. I break down old VCR's & PC's and the like into metal, plastic & electrical parts.

I keep a lot of the metal parts for the workshop Ali parts melted down for casting or recyclers if crappy old stuff. The plastic parts go in the recycling & the E-waste goes to the e-waste skip at the local metal recyclers when I do my yearly run. I made just over £400 when I went just after Xmas.

regards

Edited By Oldiron on 14/01/2023 13:52:49