Lose It: CDs, DVDs, Cassettes and VHS tapes

Donate them to your local library or school if the content is relevant. Some schools will also use cassette tape for crafts (there's a rumor that it makes great puppet hair).

Try giving them away on Craigslist or Freecycle. You'd be surprised at how many people will jump at the chance to own a bit of music/media history.

If you have an especially impressive collection, try selling them on eBay or Amazon.

Lose It!

VHS and cassette tapes: Check with your city's recycling guidelines. Some cities will allow you to recycle the plastic shell with the tape taken out, so you can toss them into your recycling bin.

Mail items in to GreenDisk, Back Thru The Future, or Nationwide Recycle by Mail. Each organization has different shipping rules and regulations, but all provide simple options for you to mail in your old VHS and cassette tapes, and have them disposed of correctly.

CDs and DVDs: Like VHS and cassette tapes, CDs and DVDs need to be recycled at special facilities. Most of these discs contain aluminum, lacquer, gold, dyes, glass, silver, and nickel — among other dangerous chemicals and materials. Throwing them away in the trash or recycling can be dangerous. Many of the facilities that process VHS and cassette tapes will also process CDS or DVDs.

The CD Recycling Center of America has a database of locations where you can mail in small quantities of DVDs and CDs — along with their jewel boxes — for processing. For larger quantities of discs, there's a separate list of facilities nationwide where you can drop off boxes and boxes of old CDs and DVDs.

If you have a good collection, try selling them on eBay or Amazon — you'd be surprised at how much people will pay for a CD of some obscure '80s band.

More Use It or Lose It tips:
Lose It: What to Do With Leftover Building Materials
Lose It: How to Get Rid of a Mattress
Lose It: 4 Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Carpet