Sooner or later you're going to end up with CDs and DVDs you just don't want. 

In a moment of indiscretion and impulsiveness you bought some sounds or movies that, looking back, really weren't a good idea. Either you just don't like it now or it's a serious blot in your otherwise perfect collection. Add in some more from catalogues, technical updates and subscriptions that are no longer useful. Let alone coasters (bad CD or DVD burns).

So what do you do with them?

Normal plastic recycling isn't an option unless you have a few hundred kilos of discs. The polycarbonate recycling guys don't want to know about it because it costs them more to come pick them up than the material is worth.

Just a side note on recycling media: worldwide, there is a strong recycling movement in the optical media industry. CD and DVD are made from optical grade polycarbonate - pretty much the best of the best. When it's recovered for recycling it can end up being re-used everything from automotive mirrors through to roof sheeting. In some circumstances, it can even be ground up and re-dosed at a small percentage into new discs. So remember, next time you're looking in your rear-view mirror, it may have been a CD or DVD not very long ago.

So - industrial environmental stuff aside - here's the fun stuff you can do with old CDs and DVDs:

• Turning old CDs into 45 rpm records.

• Light reflector or earring holder anyone?

• Turn 150 discs into a barbell. 

• A solar cooker! Very cool! Um... well... 400F hot actually...

• A stack of discs becomes quite a cool and modern lamp.

• USB LED CD Lamp. The pic is pretty bad but the concept is appeasing.

• And last but not least - TechEBlog's Top 5 collection of old disc stuff - including some really cool artworks.

Of course, all credit where credit is due to the original sources. 

So break out your old discs and have some fun!