CDs

[dorsetmike]

I've got loads of old CDs - not music, mostly ancient software, can they be reformatted and reused or do I just bin them?

[JohnY]

They are read only (unless amateur copies in which they may, only may, be rewritable). Supposedly they can be recycled but it is a mystery how that can be done. If they go to landfill they will remain almost inert for thousands of years and might provide an interesting study for future digital archaeologists). Our general waste is incinerated and electrical power is generated. Both the plastic and aluminium burn exothermically and help the incineration process.

[andy]

Apr 18, 2023 22:10:28 GMT JohnY said:

They are read only (unless amateur copies in which they may, only may, be rewritable). Supposedly they can be recycled but it is a mystery how that can be done. If they go to landfill they will remain almost inert for thousands of years and might provide an interesting study for future digital archaeologists). Our general waste is incinerated and electrical power is generated. Both the plastic and aluminium burn exothermically and help the incineration process.

Aye, there will be a layer of AOL discs in the fossil records.

Check if any are worth anything on sites that buy CDs before binning though.

[davem399]

I saw a video a few years ago where a photographer used a CD at the base of each tripod leg on soft sand to prevent it sinking in.

[andytake2]

I binned a load a couple of weeks back.
I really haven't a clue about what to do with them otherwise. I know the environmental impact of them, but don't have any way to dispose of them otherwise.
Maybe some farmer would like to string a bunch of them across the fields to scare the birds...or more likely get some crows interested in photography and Photoshop techniques

[zx9]

Apr 19, 2023 8:14:58 GMT andytake2 said:

I binned a load a couple of weeks back.
I really haven't a clue about what to do with them otherwise. I know the environmental impact of them, but don't have any way to dispose of them otherwise.
Maybe some farmer would like to string a bunch of them across the fields to scare the birds...or more likely get some crows interested in photography and Photoshop techniques

Make art.

" A Little Light Water Music" 1 by Keith Hudson, on Flickr

" Wood-Wide Web" by Keith Hudson, on Flickr

That should give you something to do for a few minutes.

[aitch]

Wear them? Or get someone else to, depending on your proclivities...

[nimbus]

Apr 19, 2023 8:14:58 GMT andytake2 said:

I binned a load a couple of weeks back.
I really haven't a clue about what to do with them otherwise. I know the environmental impact of them, but don't have any way to dispose of them otherwise.
Maybe some farmer would like to string a bunch of them across the fields to scare the birds...or more likely get some crows interested in photography and Photoshop techniques

We get enough humans crowing about their kit on Facebook without adding actually Crows!

[Chester PB]

Perhaps some sad person somewhere collects old software CDs (people collect the strangest things). Have you tried selling them on eBay?

[neilt3]

Apr 19, 2023 8:14:58 GMT andytake2 said:

I binned a load a couple of weeks back.
I really haven't a clue about what to do with them otherwise. I know the environmental impact of them, but don't have any way to dispose of them otherwise.
Maybe some farmer would like to string a bunch of them across the fields to scare the birds...or more likely get some crows interested in photography and Photoshop techniques

I certainly use them strung up on the allotment to keep birds away from the seedlings .
If someone's got a load they want to get rid of , drop them off at the local allotments . I'm sure someone would make use of them .

[geoffr]

North of Shaftsbury, along the ridge, is a fence hung with CDs, it can be see from the town when the sun strikes them. I dare say the organisers/artists responsible would value more CDs to extend the work.

Slightly off topic, I was looking for an LP this morning and in the process found my CDs of the Rattle, Beethoven symphonies that I thought I had lost.

[Kath]

Do you have any transparent ones? The theme for the photo club this month is 'shooting through' and I was reading an article about using transparent CDs but I don't have any!

[geoffr]

Apr 23, 2023 12:28:41 GMT Kath said:

Do you have any transparent ones? The theme for the photo club this month is 'shooting through' and I was reading an article about using transparent CDs but I don't have any!

If you buy blank CDs on a spindle there is usually a transparent one on the top. I may have one or two, I'll have a look.