Magazines

Comics

Textbooks

Dictionaries

Encyclopedias

Reference Books

Manuals

DVDs

CDs

VHS tapes

Audiotapes

Games

Jigsaw puzzles

• We may hope that someone will come along who will really want our damaged old book (or outdated textbook or dictionary or whatever) but the sad truth is that the chances of that person wandering through our little library are very small. Most likely, someone will have to dispose of the book.
• Books generally can’t be recycled, not just because of the covers but also because of the glue used in the bindings. Magazines and stapled or spiral-bound books (with the spiral binding removed) can be recycled, but most books end up as landfill.
• As book lovers, we understand how hard it is to throw a book away, and it’s even worse to think of it going into landfill.
• You can keep books out of landfill by removing the covers and then cutting off the spine which has glue attached, putting all that into household garbage, and then putting the loose pages in the recycle bin.
• This is work – if a lot of books, then a lot of work! – but it’s a more environmentally-friendly solution than throwing the whole thing into landfill. (Think of it as a way of honouring the book while you say goodbye to it).