Saturday Short Subjects: What to Do with Old CDs?

I scored once again on my most recent trip to the gym. I had the luck to nab a copy of the January/February 2013 [!] Sierra from the magazine pile. CDs were the subject of that issue's “Repurpose: Trash into Treasure” column in which author Wendy Beckhold describes how to turn an unwanted CD into a stunning napkin holder. The full instructions are available online in a slideshow format. 

Unless you have or plan to have an Etsy store, my guess is that even if this craft strikes your fancy, you will still possess a great many unused CDs.

What can you do with the rest of your collection? The article suggests you turn to the CD Recycling Center of America to which you can mail unwanted CDs (from several to a full box) to a regional location based on your state. [The one for Connecticut is in Salem, New Hampshire.] Eventually they all end up at the group’s partner facility on the West Coast where “specialty proprietary equipment” processes the discs back to a clear resin, which is then sold to be used in new products for the automobile and building industries. 

The site’s FAQ page poses this question: “How do I know the CDs are not getting dumped somewhere?” The answer: “We're a growing watchdog in this industry and will report any suspicious activity to the EPA.”

Interested? Go to the Recycle Now section. Select your state, and you will be given the address of your regional facility. If you have a large number of CDs, I suggest using the US Postal Service’s “If It Fits, It Ships” Flat Rate program. This is a great way to mail heavy material, and the free boxes are very sturdy. [I know. I am a frequent customer.]

In Wendy's column she quotes CD Recycling Center of America co-founder Bruce Bennett who stated, “If every American mailed in just one disc, there would be enough to fill a freight train 234 cars long.” Wow!

Let the spring cleaning begin!

Have a great weekend.

Why Saturday Short Subjects? Some readers may recall  being dropped at the movie theater for the Saturday matinee — two action-packed feature films with a series of short subjects (cartoons or short movies, sometimes a serial cliffhanger) sandwiched in between. Often the short subjects were the most memorable, and enjoyable, part of the morning. That explains the name. The reason behind these particular posts is that we are all short on time. My Short Subject posts should not take me as long to write or you as long to read (or try).