by Krystie Bohmer

Created on: February 24, 2010   Last Updated: January 30, 2012

By recycling unwanted CDs and DVDs you are helping the environment. You see the elements in which the CDs were made are non biodegradable. They are mostly constructed of polycarbonate plastic, which is a #7 plastic, made from crude oil. This means that if you were to throw the CDs in the trash they will remain intact for years that will outnumber the days of your life.

If you don’t have the time, want or need to creatively repurpose CDs and DVDs there are organizations that offer recycling services like  the CD recycling Center of America. They offer free recycling programs for the individual, libraries, schools, radio stations and more. The CD Recycling center collects millions of CD’s, including the sleeves and cases, which are recycled with zero landfill waste.

Creatively repurposing CDs and DVDs is also an excellent idea. Beautiful gifts and useful items for your own personal use help the earth too.  You can easily find craft projects that are based around recycling CDS just by searching on the internet. Many projects only require one CD, while other projects will need several more CDs. 

To get the creative juices flowing you can view various items made from using CDs. This CD photo frame is easy to create and makes for a great gift. Teens and adults alike would enjoy making disco balls that can also be used as ornaments. For the younger ages, crafting with CDS can be equally enjoyable by creating a dog, a lion, a pumpkin, and more with simple to follow instructions at Abrakadoodle.

Reusing CDs as CD labels, one for the front of the CD, and one for the back. Having a label on both sides will make the CD unplayable. When designing your labels you can have the front label say “you’re invited” with a theme of your choice if using a CD label computer program. The back of your label can have all the necessary details of the party.

A clock that is made from using a CD makes a perfect handmade gift. You will find this completed project suitable for any age or gender depending the way it is decorated.

To make your CD coasters you can glue 3 or 4 stacked CDs together or glue a single CD.  Use felt or round wood pieces the same size as the CD on the bottoms. A piece of thin cork board large enough for a glass bottom to rest upon yet smaller than the CD glued to top center will complete the coasters. These make an attractive coaster along with being a good conversation piece.

A window can be uniquely adorned with hanging CDs that reflect the sunlight. Make several strands of CDs connected by a ribbon or perhaps beaded wire to hang from the curtain rod. Once you have accumulated a lot of CDs this would be a fun project. Make two holes in each CD opposite one another, close to the edges. The only CD that does not get two holes is the bottom ones. With the holes you have added, connect the colored or painted CDs to each other by using ribbon, or beaded wire. Each piece of ribbon or wire will be used to connect 2 CDs together. Once you have reached the desire length of the strand, secure a piece of ribbon/wire to top of CD allowing the rest of the strand to dangle from the curtain rod.

Next time, before you discard a CD or DVD think of how you can help protect the earth by sending them to a recycle plant or use them to create awesome projects, either way recycling is definitely admirable. However when you combine two hobbies together like recycling and crafting you can save a ton of money on supplies!

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