If you wish to recycle the plastic cases, it might be a bit tough. These are #6 plastic (polystyrene), which may be recyclable where you live — be sure to check with your local authorities. Since #6 is not wildly popular, a better bet might be one of several outfits around your country that will recycle these items for you; generally your costs are just for shipping. Check out GreenDisk, which takes all manner of “technotrash,” from iPods to X-rays; CD Recycling Center of America, which has several locations around the country; and CD Recycling Central based in California, which recycles other e-waste items too.
What happens to your CD cases when you send them off this way? According to Earth 911, they are simply recycled into new plastic items, which we hope will be useful to someone — and then eventually recycled again.
You could also contact your local library to ask whether they need any replacement cases — I see from many discussions online that library patrons are wild and reckless, and CD cases often come back smashed. Many people also recommend posting the cases on a site such as Craigslist or Freecycle. One man’s trash, and all that.
Other option is to reuse/repurpose/upcycle them, here some ideas:
DIY – Photo Frame CarouselHow to Make a Light out of a CD SpindleCD Case Greenhouse TutorialGardening for geeks: Clean out top of CD spindle and transplant seedlings into itTravel checkers board from DVD caseCD Case Towel Rack ProjectDVD cases reused as frame for tiled photosAltered DVD Casedvd coloring casereuse a CD/DVD spindle to hold a ball of yarnbagel to go: toasted bagel + avocado in a CD spindleHow to Make a desktop photo frame from an old CD case and office supplies
Convert old CD packaging into a flower pot by gate
CD case calendar by Kale_3dDIY Recycled CD Cover FramesCD containers are good way to store your lace and ribbon samples, don’t forget to slide a CD between layers.CD case storage for router & drill bits by vicbab
CD Earring Holder by MuffinSqueeReuse old DVD cases and the scratched or worn out CDs or DVDs to teach and practice with children the Word FamiliesReuse CD/DVD cases for children to make art with a variety of beansRe-use DVD container for SticklesReuse dvd cases to hang art or pictures
Many ideas more:
15 Ways to Reuse Old CD Spindle CasesRe-use Slim CD Cases!Ideas to reuse CD cases and spindles (Spanish)25 Creative and Cool Ways To Reuse Old CD Holders.3 Ways to Reuse Old CD CasesNine DVD and CD Recycle Reuse Tutorials10 Ways to Repurpose CDs & CD CasesUpcycle This! 8 Ways to Reuse Those Old CD Cases
Love green house idea. Lots of interesting ideas. I usually have broken cases, so use any leftover good case to protect my CDs.
I think libraries would be very happy to get your un-needed cases.
One year I hung old CDs from string and tied them to me green bean trellis. No sure they did anything, but my neighbors liked them.
Andy
ecogreenlove 
Wow!! SO MANY creative upcycling ideas! Great post!
I’m glad it was inspiring! Thank you for passing by 🙂
Love green house idea. Lots of interesting ideas. I usually have broken cases, so use any leftover good case to protect my CDs.
I think libraries would be very happy to get your un-needed cases.
One year I hung old CDs from string and tied them to me green bean trellis. No sure they did anything, but my neighbors liked them.
Andy
Oh was it like sun catchers? Maybe they made some interesting reflections 🙂
Thank you for passing by! Enjoy your weekend
Thanks for sharing! 💚