DVDs are made from polycarbonate plastic and a thin layer of metal. Polycarbonate is a type of plastic that is durable and shatterproof. The thin layer of metal is applied to the DVD in a vacuum-metallization process. DVDs are not biodegradable, and they can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill.

There are several ways to dispose of DVDs. One way is to recycle them. Recycling facilities accept DVDs that are made of polycarbonate plastic. The metal layer on the DVD can be recycled, but the plastic cannot. Another way to dispose of DVDs is to donate …