Reckless Records launches vinyl recycling program in Chicago

The big picture: Vinyl has enjoyed a massive resurgence over the past decade, but there's been little focus on what happens when records become damaged beyond repair or owners no longer want them.

How it works: Music fans can return damaged or unplayable vinyl records regardless of the artist, label or condition.

• The pilot aims to determine whether those records can be recycled into new products or have their materials recovered.
• The albums will be collected by Reckless and sent back to Warner Music Group for evaluation.

Yes, but: Reckless, which has built its business buying and selling used records, doesn't want customers to mistake the program as a new business strategy.

What they're saying: "We don't want customers to think we're not buying used records anymore," Reckless Records' Matt Jencik tells Axios. "This is a great pilot to make people aware of sustainability and recycling."

• Jencik says many records that appear unplayable can often be restored with a professional cleaning. If a record can be salvaged, Reckless would rather buy it than recycle it.
• Some vinyl cannot be saved, like vinyl with water damage, scratches or cracks.

What's next: The pilot runs through September, after which Warner Music Group will evaluate whether to expand the program.