Disposing of cd's

[kimmer]

I've just finished going through all our old cd's that I packed and kept. I now have a pile of approx 60 cd's with old "stuff" on them. I've made one fresh cd with the pics, the rest is disposable.

Our shredder doesn't eat cd's, so what is the best way to destroy the data on these? And is there a way to recycle them?

[Paddy]

Lots of ideas here:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=56

http://www.worldwise.com/reccdsanddv.html (suggestions at the end of article)

http://www.ci.concord.ca.us/living/recycle/env-cd-dvd.htm (recycling info at end of article)

Generally, you cannot recycle CDs curbside or at a normal drop-off station, but there are two facilities referenced in the link above that will do it if you send them the CDs. You pay the freight, of course.

[Texas Mac Man]

Put a few scratches on them so they can't be read. Then hang them in a tree for Christmas decorations. The reflective surfaces look great.

[kimmer]

Thank, Paddy. I'll check those links out.

Tom, my cat would find those dangling, sparkley cd's irresistible! CRASH would go our little tree.

[Texas Mac Man]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Dec 16 2006, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tom, my cat would find those dangling, sparkley cd's irresistible! CRASH would go our little tree.

I've seen them on outside trees.

[jcarter]

I hung a few of my old ones out in the woods behind our house, and that upset the crows for a while.  They were quite pretty in the sun out there in the woods.
I should try that again, maybe I can keep that HUGE hawk away from my bird feeders.
Jane

[Mayo]

15-30 seconds in a microwave does the trick... If they begin to smell you've nuked them too long. Turn off the lights for a mini light-show!

[gunug]

I am reminded in the microwave the CD's comment of this website of "unwise" microwave experiments:

http://amasci.com/weird/microwave/voltage2.html

Someone elsewhere was running a current across the microwaved CD's (and getting interesting lightning-like effects); but don't think I'd do that either!  It's fine with me if someone runs CD's through someone else's microwave!  

QUOTE

So next, I put a little bit of argon in a white kitchen trash bag, threw in a piece of carbon fiber, then squeezed out the argon (to flush any nitrogen totally out.) Then I filled half the bag with argon, tied it off with a plastic tie, and stuffed it into the oven. Close the door. Hit the start button. Ten seconds of stunning noise, lights, and patterns, and the small audience broke into spontaneous applause, because...

    * First the ENTIRE OVEN FILLED WITH JITTERING LIGHTING BOLTS
    * Next the bag started melting and collapsing, holes appeared
    * The lightning spewed right into the air through the holes as the bag shrunk
    * The lightning remaining in the bag turned into bright turquoise plasma
    * As the bag entirely collapsed, brilliant plasma amoebas crawled frantically       around, burning the bag and finding every last bit of remaining argon.
    * Silence. Darkness. The stunned crowd cheers

"Golly Gee Mister Science"

[Gregg]

I'll take those CDs off your hands. How long before they mature?

[Mayo]

QUOTE

Someone elsewhere was running a current across the microwaved CD's (and getting interesting lightning-like effects); but don't think I'd do that either!

I've done it a number of times over the years and the microwave does not suffer any ill effects.

The "unwise microwave experments" Web page doesn't include nuking CDs under "don't do this!"

Like I wrote earlier, just nuke the CD until the entire mirror surface has been covered by the "lightning."  After removing the CD there are small cracks all over the CD.   I guarantee that the data contained therein is completely zapped!

[krissel]

I just know you are looking for something 'creative' to do with those, right kimmer?  

Here ya go...sell the results at your local flea market.

http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/clock3.html

http://www.fricano.com/cdclockkit/

http://www.klockit.com/products/dept-157__sku-BBBBN.html

[kimmer]

QUOTE(Texas Mac Man @ Dec 16 2006, 11:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've seen them on outside trees.

Wonder how they'd look on our rhododendron bushes?    Outdoor trees are a tad too tall (with no low branches) for me to decorate.

QUOTE(Mayo @ Dec 16 2006, 01:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

15-30 seconds in a microwave does the trick... If they begin to smell ...

I'll know I'm at someone else's house. hehehe  No micro here, but sounds cool.

QUOTE(Gregg @ Dec 16 2006, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll take those CDs off your hands. How long before they mature?

LOL! I wish!

QUOTE(krissel @ Dec 16 2006, 07:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just know you are looking for something 'creative' to do with those, right kimmer?  

  Very cool.

[antony]

I'm a bit lazy, I use permanent marker (thick one) to mark some lines as "scratched lines" suggested in http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=56 . Well, I know it's still possible for others to retrieve the data, but it takes time for them to clean up the marker.

I guess I can try sandpaper next time.

[jcarter]

All of mine just have photos of flowers, nature, grandkids and pets on them.  So I dont bother to do anything to them, a bit of outside sparkeling on the trees, then into the garbage works for me.
Jane

[pendragon]

If you think about it on the front end and you're using Toast to burn your CD (not sure when/what version this feature first became available), it's a simple matter to check "Encrypted" prior to burning. Then, even if the CD is readable, the miscreant will still need to know your password to open/read the CD.

From the Toast 7 Help:

To encrypt a Mac Only disc:
1   Prepare your disc as you normally would. See Making a Mac Only Disc.
2   Click Encrypted in the left drawer.
3   Click the red Record button.
4   Enter a password when prompted and click OK.

•    Warning:   Keep your password in a safe place. If you forget your password, there will be no way to access the data on the disc.
The contents are 128-bit encrypted (which is really quite strong) to a single file and recorded to the disc.

To access an encrypted disc:
1   Insert the disc into a drive.
The disc contains a single file containing the compressed contents of the disc.
2   Double-click the encrypted file.
3   Enter the password when prompted and click OK.
The file will decrypt to the Desktop.

Easy and works great.