Though photos may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to recycling, there are many reasons you may want to get rid of them. When people ask, ‘Can you recycle photos?’, they’re often met with confusion. Paper and cardboard can be recycled, but what about old photographs we no longer care for?
In this guide, we explore whether or not old photos are recyclable waste and where to dispose of them properly.
What are Photographs Made of?
Before we explore if you can recycle photos, it’s a good idea to start by explaining their composition. Everyone knows that glossy photo feeling, but what exactly are they made of?
Photos are made of a light-sensitive emulsion which is then coated onto paper, most typically. Photographs can also be printed on glass, ceramics, and other materials. Due to their plastic elements, this makes them very difficult to recycle at all.
What About Instant Photos (Polaroid or Instax)?
If you have some Polaroids lying around that you no longer want, unfortunately, they also can’t be recycled. This is because of their unique composition, layers of plastic, with pigments and developing chemicals.
Can You Recycle Photo Albums?
Photo albums also cause confusion. Most albums contain plastic covers, adhesive pages, or laminated parts that make them non-recyclable. If you have a very simple album made from plain paper, you may be able to recycle it after removing any plastic pieces, but this is rare. In most cases, it is easier to reuse the album or donate it if it’s still in good condition.
What to do With Old Photographs
Most people assume that since photos are made using paper, they can be recycled. However, this isn’t true. Despite their composition, the only way to dispose of photos is to throw them away in household waste bins, if you absolutely need to.
Many photos can be stored away and forgotten about, though it’s understandable why you may not want to keep hold of them at all.
Be sure not to burn or throw away old photographs into the environment. This can cause damage not only to the atmosphere, but photos take a long time to degrade.
Is it Possible to Recycle Photos?
Unfortunately, photos can’t be recycled. You should never throw old photos away into recycling bins, as they will just have to be segregated and sorted through at a waste disposal facility.
Instead, we recommend just holding onto them so as not to cause disposal complications. There are many ways in which you may be able to creatively reuse old photographs, too, if you want to upcycle them.
Options for Upcycling Old Photos
As photos can’t typically be recycled, it may be time to get creative with your options if you no longer want them.
Luckily, there are a range of ways in which you can upcycle your photos:
- Consider collaging your photos – this is a great way to give old photos a new lease of life. Arrange them carefully in a book or mount them on cardboard to create a family display.
- Donate to charity – if you have historically interesting photos lying around, you can always donate them to a charity or vintage shop. Many collectors will buy these photographs and use them.
- Use them for art projects – you may be surprised at how great old photos can be when they’re used creatively. Why not experiment a little and get creative?
Can Old Photos Be Shredded?
Another means of ‘getting rid of’ old photos includes shredding or destroying them with scissors, for example.
Consider shredding or cutting up old photos if they’re sensitive, before disposing of them in the general waste bin. Where possible, keep your photo disposal to a minimum, and if there are alternative means to throwing them out, consider these instead.
Use Digital Alternatives to Printed Photos in the Future
In this day and age, many of us simply use our phones to capture and store photos. This is a great alternative to physical photographs as they can be securely stored, kept private, and help to reduce paper and plastic waste.
Digital photos may not have the same nostalgic feeling to them, but they’re certainly more environmentally friendly. From a processing outlook to disposal, both of these steps are eliminated.
If you can, it’s a great idea to opt for digital photos rather than traditional, glossy photographs, which can’t be recycled. Not only will you be helping to keep the environment clean and free from non-recyclable waste, but you benefit from more compact storage.
Digitising Old Photos
If you have old family photos that are no longer wanted, there is the option to digitise them. This involves scanning the photographs or using an app to digitally enhance them on your phone. Once you’ve done this, you can store them on the Cloud, your computer, or elsewhere online.
What Bin Do You Use for Old Photographs?
Now that we’ve come to the conclusion that, sadly, old photos can’t be recycled, it’s a good idea to get clear on what bin to use. Though you can’t recycle photos, you can simply throw them into your black bin, which is for general waste.
