Vinyl records
Also: LPs · 45s · 12-inch singles
The short answer · Pilots only
There is no standing recycling service for records in the US. A record that plays is worth more as a record.
What to do
- 1If it plays, sell it or give it away: a record shop, a thrift store or a listing site.
- 2If it doesn't play, it goes in the trash for now. Curbside programs generally don't take #3 plastic (see Packaging and #3).
- 3Watch for take-back pilots. They have been short and local so far.
What we know
Warner Music Group and 11 independent record stores ran an in-store take-back pilot for damaged or unplayable records from late June to September 2026. Its stated aim was to evaluate whether records could be recovered; recycling was not promised. Source: recordoftheday.com
In February 2026 the Vinyl Institute gave VMB Micro, in Dallas–Fort Worth, a $100,000 grant to build return infrastructure for records. No public drop-off or mail-in instructions have been published. Source: vinylinfo.org
When it is recycled, it becomes: New records and other vinyl products, in the VMB Micro project. Source: vinylinfo.org