Destroy VHS Tapes

Thanks to the increase in technology, consumers see more and more ways to store their information. Gone are the days of floppy disks and instead, more and more people are using the cloud and the internet to store their items. While this saves space, it might leave consumers wondering how to destroy VHS tapes and other old forms of storage devices. One of the best ways to destroy a VHS tape is through secure e-waste destruction.

One difficulty with getting rid of tape media is that it is not a biodegradable product meaning the VHS tape will end up in landfills where it will sit for hundreds of years. Additionally, merely burning the memory tape found in a VHS as well as the plastic will release toxic fumes. These toxic fumes get into the air and may even pollute water sources if enough is burned. Instead of burning, consider a third party e-waste recycling and destruction company.

There are two main ways to dispose of a VHS tape. The first is through erasing the existing data from the tape by using a powerful magnet. When the tape is passed through the magnetic field, it will scramble and rearrange the magnetic particles on the tape, permanently erasing all the existing data and making it unreadable. The second method is through the physical destruction of the tape. The tape is put into a machine where it is then pulverized into thousands of tiny pieces. If any pieces can be recycled, it will be recycled at this point. If not, the pulverized remaining parts can then be sent to a landfill. These two ways of disposing of a VHS tape will ensure that the media stored on the device will not fall into the wrong hands so you will know your data can remain safe and secure.