CDs & DVDs
The collected CDS & DVDS are sent to Terracycle for recycling.
The rapid advancement of technology has resulted in the upgrading of digital gadgets and devices, meaning older models are being thrown away. This is contributing to the world’s fastest-growing waste system, and Australia is up there with one of the worst perpetrators.
Ranking number fifth among the world’s top producers of e-waste, Australia is a huge contributor to this problem. The rate at which e-waste is growing is three times that of general waste, and 140,000 tonnes of electric waste is produced each year – that means 88% of the 4 million computers and 3 million TVs purchased end up in landfills.
If you’re hoping to get rid of old CDs and DVDs, it’s not as simple as just popping them in the bin. CDs and DVDs are non-biodegradable and contain toxic chemicals and metals that can contaminate the environment if landfilled.
All types and formats of CDs and DVDs can be recycled. When recycling CDs and DVDs, both discs undergo a similar process to recover reusable materials such as polycarbonate (a type of plastic) and aluminium for reuse in the manufacture of other products.
Is There a Difference in How DVDs and CDs Are Recycled?
Both discs are recycled in a similar fashion. During the recycling process, the metallic coating is removed, and the plastic is granulated and then recycled.
Disc recycling processes can recover about 98% of the original disc and reuse this material. The recovered plastics and metals are then used again across a range of plastic products and metal parts in Australia. Many damaged CDs and DVDs can also be reused or resold.