Key Production Group Initiative
Key Production Group has introduced a program for recycling discarded vinyl and compact discs in collaboration with British indie record stores.
Revival of Vinyl Recycling Scheme
Initially launched in 2020, the scheme sought to prevent damaged compact discs and vinyls from ending up in landfills and to facilitate their recycling. However, progress was hindered by the pandemic. The initiative has now resumed on the day of processing the world (March 18).
Indie sound recording stores like Rough Trade and Sister Ray will offer a service that accepts various kinds of vinyl records and compact discs along with their packaging—regardless of size or condition—ensuring they are disposed of responsibly.
Vinyl records and compact discs are composed of different plastics; vinyl is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and CDs are made from polycarbonate—both materials can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills.
The gross trade of MD Lawrence Montgomery has mentioned that offering a solution that is “not only sustainable but also positively impacts the product life cycle is crucial for the store,” further adding that the scheme is beneficial for “gross trade”.
In light of the vinyl boom, the Key Production Group has resumed its services, with earlier reports indicating a nearly 15% increase in vinyl sales during the first nine months of 2023, despite the persistent popularity of streaming services.
Music enthusiasts who want to recycle old records or compact discs can send them directly to Key Production Group, and more details on the process can be found here. Recycled materials will be repurposed into new products such as pipes, flooring, garden furniture, and road cones.
Upcoming Record Store Day
Meanwhile, the 18th edition of Record Store Day will be celebrated in 2025, featuring over 270 independent record stores nationwide, along with thousands of participants from around the globe. As is customary, the event will include a variety of in-store festivities and a celebration of the indie music culture.
This year, Post Malone has been named the ambassador for the event. “What an honor! I can’t believe they chose me to become the ambassador for Record Store Day 2025,” he stated in a recent announcement. “Record Store Day is so important, and I genuinely hope to contribute to its preservation.”
“We love to visit local stores when we are on the road, admiring all the incredible artwork; the energy in record stores is simply inspiring,” he added.
Post Malone steps into the role following a lineup of past ambassadors including St. Vincent, Taylor Swift, Elton John, Noel Gallagher, The 1975, and Dave Grohl. Last year, the titles were held by big names such as Paramore and Kate Bush.
The previous Record Store Day event took place on April 20 and featured releases from The 1975, David Bowie, Daft Punk, Talking Heads, Paramore, Blur, Lily Allen, Gorillaz, Elton John, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/new-recycling-scheme-for-unplayable-vinyl-and-cd-launched-with-rough-trade-and-other-uk-stores-on-board-3847196?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-recycling-scheme-for-unplayable-vinyl-and-cd-launched-with-rough-trade-and-other-uk-stores-on-board
