Where to Donate DVDs and CDs in Albuquerque, NM

Most people know where to donate books, but what about DVDs, Blu-rays, and CDs? If you've got a stack of old movies, music, or audiobooks that you don't use anymore, finding a place that actually wants them can be surprisingly difficult. Goodwill takes some, but they're picky. Libraries usually don't want them. And nobody's buying used CDs in 2026.

The New Mexico Literacy Project accepts DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, and audiobooks alongside books at my free 24/7 drop-off at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, Unit A, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Any condition. No sorting. Just bring them.

Last verified May 2026 · Original research by Josh Eldred

What Media I Accept

I accept DVDs (standard and Blu-ray), music CDs, audiobooks on CD, and similar disc-based media. Scratched discs, missing cases, no original artwork — all fine. I sort through everything and find what can be resold, and what can't be resold gets recycled.

If you're clearing out a whole media collection — maybe you switched to streaming and your DVD shelf is collecting dust — this is the easiest way to get rid of it all at once. Bring the DVDs, CDs, and any books you want to include, and drop the whole load in one trip.

Why DVDs and CDs Are Hard to Donate

In the streaming era, most donation centers have cut back on accepting physical media. Libraries stopped taking DVD donations years ago in many cities. Thrift stores accept them but often during limited hours, and many won't take discs without cases.

My drop box doesn't have those restrictions. I take media in any condition, any time of day. The outdoor drop box at Edith Blvd near Montano is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What Happens to Donated Media

DVDs and CDs that are in sellable condition get resold, which helps fund my operations. Others may be recycled responsibly. I sort everything that comes in and work to keep as much as possible out of the landfill.

Combine Your Media and Book Donation

If you're clearing out shelves and cabinets, don't make separate trips. Bring your books, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks all at once. Box them up, drive to 5445 Edith Blvd NE, Unit A, and drop everything in the outdoor box. One trip, everything handled.

Which Formats I Accept (And Which I Don't)

Not all physical media formats are the same. Here's what I definitely accept, what I sometimes accept, and what I can't handle.

If you're not sure what you have, just bring it along with your books. I'll sort through it—better to ask than assume.

The Surprising Resale Value of Certain DVDs and CDs

You'd think DVDs and CDs are worthless in 2026. And most are. But certain titles and formats do have market value, which might surprise you.

DVDs with collector or limited appeal: Complete TV series box sets still sell. Films that were released in limited theatrical runs have buyers. Director's cuts, special editions, and out-of-print films often have resale value. A Criterion Collection DVD can be worth common reading copy prices–80 even used. Meanwhile, a standard DVD of a forgettable 2010 rom-com is worth 25 cents.

Music CDs: Mainstream pop CDs from the 1990s-2000s (basically anything people bought before Spotify) have almost no value. But specialty formats do: jazz audiophile reissues, rare pressing classical CDs, limited edition anime soundtracks, and underground rock albums sometimes fetch a few dollars–15 each. Japanese imports and out-of-print albums have small but genuine collector markets.

Audiobooks on CD: These have a steadier market than music CDs. People still listen to audiobooks on CD in their cars, especially older drivers who don't use streaming. Complete audiobook sets are more valuable than standalone music CDs.

When I process your donations, I assess condition and rarity. If a disc has resale value, I move it to my sales channel. If it doesn't, it gets recycled. You don't need to sort—just donate, and I handle the evaluation.

Why Streaming Hasn't Killed Physical Media—For Everyone

It's tempting to assume that streaming has completely replaced physical media. Netflix, Spotify, and Apple Music dominate, so why do people still have stacks of DVDs and CDs?

For movies: Streaming catalogs are constantly rotating. Movies disappear from Netflix, get yanked from licenses, or become unavailable in your region. If you love a film, owning the DVD is the only way to guarantee you'll always have it. This is why physical movie sales have stabilized rather than completely died—people still buy DVDs and Blu-rays of movies they actually want to keep forever.

For music: Streaming works for discovery and casual listening, but it doesn't work for everyone. Musicians make nearly nothing from streams. Fans who want to actually support artists buy physical CDs. Audiophiles argue that CD quality is superior to compressed streaming audio. Parents of kids in cars without streaming still play CDs. Used CD markets still exist because ownership matters to some listeners.

For audiobooks: Audiobook subscriptions (Audible, Scribd) are expensive, so some people still prefer to buy audiobooks on CD once and listen to them forever. Libraries still circulate audiobooks on CD because their internet bandwidth is limited and not everyone has data plans.

The death of physical media has been greatly exaggerated. It's not the dominant format anymore, but for certain uses and certain audiences, DVDs, CDs, and other physical formats still matter.

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