The quick answer
- Playable records: sell them to a record shop or online, or donate them to a thrift store.
- Do not put records in the recycling cart. Almost all are made of PVC, a plastic that curbside programs do not take.
- Recycle the paper parts. Cardboard jackets and paper inner sleeves can usually go in with paper and cardboard once the plastic is removed.
- Broken, warped or badly scratched records go in the trash. Bag or wrap any sharp pieces.
- Never burn records. Burning or melting PVC gives off harmful fumes.
What records are made of
Most records pressed from the 1950s on, including LPs and 45s, are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the plastic marked with recycling code #3. The paper label is pressed into the vinyl, and colored records add dyes to the same compound. Older 78 rpm records are different: they were usually made from a brittle shellac-based compound that chips and snaps easily. Neither kind is something a recycling sorting line is set up to handle.
Can you recycle vinyl records?
In practice, rarely. Curbside programs mostly collect bottles, jugs, tubs and other plastic containers, and very few accept #3 plastic at all. A record is also not packaging, so even programs that take some #3 items usually leave records off their lists. Putting records in the cart tends to send them to the landfill anyway, after they have gummed up the sorting process.
A few specialty recyclers and mail-back services say they accept records. If you find one, ask what actually happens to the records and whether there is a charge before you box them up. For most people, keeping playable records in use is the better path, and the trash is the honest answer for the rest.
Selling records
- Check what you have. Most common pop and easy-listening records are worth little, but some pressings, first editions and genres sell well. Collector databases and online marketplaces such as Discogs let you look up a pressing by the catalog number on the label and see what copies have sold for.
- Condition matters most. Look for deep scratches, warps and water damage on the record and the jacket. A clean record in a clean jacket is worth far more than the same title in rough shape.
- Record shops buy used records, often by the box. They need to resell at a profit, so expect an offer below retail.
- Online and local listings usually bring more for valuable records but take more time to photograph, describe and ship safely.
Donating and giving them away
- Thrift stores often take records along with other media. Call first, because some no longer accept them.
- Libraries and Friends of the Library sales sometimes accept records for book sales. Ask before you drop anything off.
- Schools, art programs and community centers may want records for music classes or craft projects.
- Free listings. A “free records” post on a local swap group or a box on the curb with a sign often finds a home for a whole stack in a day. Check your local rules on leaving items at the curb.
Reuse and craft projects
Records that no longer play still have some uses. People frame them as wall art, turn the jackets into posters, or use records as coasters, clock faces and display pieces. Skip projects that involve heating records in an oven or with a heat gun indoors, since warming PVC can release fumes you should not breathe.
Album covers and sleeves
- Cardboard jackets: remove any plastic shrink wrap or outer plastic sleeve, then recycle the jacket with cardboard or mixed paper if your program accepts it. Heavily coated or glossy jackets may be rejected in some areas, so check your local guide.
- Paper inner sleeves: recycle with paper.
- Plastic and plastic-lined sleeves: these go in the trash unless your local guide says otherwise.
- Lyric sheets and inserts: recycle with paper, or keep them with the record if you are selling it, since complete copies are worth more.
Throwing records away
Records are not hazardous waste, so the trash is a lawful place for ones that cannot be played, sold or given away. Stack them flat in a sturdy bag or box. Shellac 78s break into sharp pieces, so wrap broken ones in newspaper or put them in a box before they go in the bin to protect sanitation workers. A large number of records is heavy; if a pile is too much for your cart, a transfer station or landfill can take it with your other household trash. Use the Dumpmapper map to find a drop-off near you.
Clearing out a big collection
- Sort first. Pull out anything that looks rare or is in very good shape and price those separately.
- Call collection buyers. Some record dealers buy whole collections and will come to you for a large one.
- Estate cleanouts: keep the records in their jackets and boxes, upright and out of heat, until a buyer has looked at them.
- Players and stereo gear: a turntable, receiver or amplifier that you are not selling belongs at electronics recycling, not in the trash. See our guide to disposing of old speakers for those too.
- Other media in the same boxes: our guides to disposing of CDs and DVDs and VHS tapes cover the rest.
Vinyl record disposal FAQ
Can vinyl records be recycled?
Rarely. Most records are made of PVC, recycling code #3, which curbside programs almost never accept. A few specialty recyclers say they take records; ask what they do with them before you ship anything.
Can I throw vinyl records in the trash?
Yes. Records are not hazardous waste, so the trash is fine for records that cannot be played, sold or given away. Wrap broken pieces so they do not cut anyone.
Where can I donate old vinyl records?
Thrift stores, Friends of the Library book sales, schools and art programs often take them. Call ahead, since some places no longer accept records. A free listing on a local swap group also works well.
Are my old vinyl records worth anything?
Most common records are worth little, but some pressings and genres sell well. Look up the catalog number on the label in a collector database such as Discogs, check the condition, or ask a record shop.
How do I dispose of broken records or old 78s?
Old 78s are usually made of brittle shellac and break into sharp pieces. Wrap broken records in newspaper or put them in a box, then put them in the trash.
Can I recycle album covers and record sleeves?
Usually. Remove any shrink wrap or plastic sleeve, then recycle cardboard jackets and paper inner sleeves with paper or cardboard if your program takes them. Plastic sleeves go in the trash.
The bottom line
Keep records in use if you can: check for valuable pressings, then sell, donate or give away anything that still plays. Recycle the cardboard jackets and paper sleeves, but leave the records themselves out of the recycling cart, because they are PVC that curbside programs do not take. Bag broken and unplayable records and put them in the trash, and never burn or melt them.