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Remember when AOL would send us a floppy disk for its latest upgrade. You know, the upgrade that was compatible with the 56k dial-up modem. "Lucky day," we'd shout as we pushed the floppy into our disk drive. The computer would make that horrible Matrix noise as it tried to connect to the first number. Oh, Noes! The server is full. Oh, Yeses! The back-up number worked. Can't wait to chat about Korn!
Times have changed. Floppy disks have not. That's the problem. They are incompatible with everything. Universities and companies are lousy with floppy disks, and I'll bet that most of us have a floppy disk or two stashed in a drawer. Well, folks, here are some ideas on how to reuse them.
- Send them to Greendisk
Greendisk is a company that recycles floppy disks and about any sort of techno trash that you can think of. That means you, Zip drive. - Floppy Disk Bag
Instructables has instructions on how to build a bag out of floppy disks. Nothing says "bag made out of floppy disks" like a bag made out of floppy disks. - Floppy Disk Notepad
This little gadget from Etsy uses floppy disks as a holder for notebook paper. It's real useful, pocket-sized and the floppy disk surfaces can be reused. Gearlog shows you how to make your own. - Use them in a DIY RAID Drive
You can build a RAID drive out of what is probably considered trash to most. If you don't like that suggestion, go glue an abacus to your computer. - Floppy Disk Pen Holder
Make a floppy disk box. Put pens in. Take pen out. Write on floppy disk notepad. You did good. - Floppy Disk CD Holders
I have to get this tip in before CDs go obsolete. You can take those old, old floppy disks (the actually floppy ones) and cut them open. A CD or DVD will fit in there. Wikihow tells you how. - Letter Holder
Mikeups, YouTube contributor, shows us how to make a letter holder, a pen holder and cubby holes out of floppy disks. - Floppy Disk Dot Com Will Buy Your Disks!
From FloppyDisk.com:
Recycling Program Extended to December 31, 2009. Send us your old diskettes and we recycle them for use. It is not necessary to erase or reformat the disks. We will erase the data and reformat the diskettes here.
It's easy. Just send your discs to:
Floppydisk Recycle Program
2620 Walnut Ave Unit D
Tustin, CA 92780-7028
If you have 500 or more disks to recycle, we pay 2 cents each for discs.
Two cents per disk? 501 disks equals $10.02. That's decent money for what is essentially garbage. - Donate them to the ACT Recycling Program
ACT is a program that employs the mentally challenged. They also recycle floppy disks. "Lend a hand and get rid of a floppy disk," that's my motto. - Turn a Floppy Disk into a USB Drive
Thomas O Connor, managed to turn a floppy disk into a USB drive.
- Bonus:
Make a little Starship Enterprise.
More on Disposing E-Waste:
How to Dispose of Lava Lamps
How to Dispose of Old Hearing Aids
E-waste In India: A Growing Industry & Environmental Threat
Encourage E:waste Recycling in Your Workplace
Consumer Guides for E-Cycling After the Holidays
60 Minutes Reporter Attacked in Chinese E-Waste Pit
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