Where to dispose the Insurance Crd/Credit Card etc.?

[zeeshan]

Hi,

So I can't just throw my expired credit card/health insurance card in the regular trash bins and have to be disposed off in same way electrical appliances are. I usually submit my small appliances in electrical stores like Saturn etc. and know that there are places in stores where you can submit used batteries, however with a card I'm a bit more careful as it contains PII. I know I can cut it in to small pieces but would look weird to then give it to a a person. Are there any bins for that at any common places because I also don't want to travel far away from an electrical appliances collection point?

[Robinson100]

A very good question, and I am also curious if anybody knows the "correct" solution!

I usually cut up my cards into lots of small pieces, especially the parts with name and numbers on, and put pieces in different rubbish bins - some will be in the bins at home, whilst some will be at work, or at the bus stop, or wherever.
This way, I feel pretty certain that nobody will be able to re-use/mis-use my cards, but, this being Germany, with a solution to things you have never thought about, I rather suspect there is another solution, which would be considered the "correct" one!

[LeonG]

You can take it to your bank and ask them to destroy it.

[Franklan]

I use my Lochzange and punch out the chip, the magnet stripe and the numbers...

[alma.freya]

You can take it to your bank and ask them to destroy it.

Yes, the bank will cut up the cards into lots of small pieces, especially the parts with name and numbers on, and put pieces in different rubbish bins - some will be in the bins at home, whilst some will be at work, or at the bus stop, or wherever.

I actually do the same.

[LukeSkywalker]

I usually cut up my cards into lots of small pieces, especially the parts with name and numbers on, and put pieces in different rubbish bins - some will be in the bins at home, whilst some will be at work, or at the bus stop, or wherever.

Wow, that‘s very thorough. I was just reading that you can take it to a Wertstoffhof as well. Section is little electrical appliances.

[Fraufruit]

I cut mine up and then put them in the rubbish over a few days.

Just found this-

The fastest way to destroy an old card is with a cross-cut shredder specifically designed to cut credit cards. If you shop for a shredder, you will notice that even modestly priced ones have this ability. If your shredder has this feature, go ahead and shred your swipe-only cards.

[LukeSkywalker]

So, basically some of you go about it like getting rid of a dead body.

PS- this is the official Friday post.

[Franklan]

So, basically some of you go about it like getting rid of a dead body.

As nobody wrote about unslaked lime so far, we're not there yet.

[LeonG]

Yes, the bank will cut up the cards into lots of small pieces, especially the parts with name and numbers on, and put pieces in different rubbish bins - some will be in the bins at home, whilst some will be at work, or at the bus stop, or wherever.

I actually do the same.

I used to cut them up for the bin until I learned that they are electrical garbage and shouldn't go in the bin. So now I give them to the bank and what happens after that is not my problem.

I cut mine up and then put them in the rubbish over a few days.

Just found this-

The fastest way to destroy an old card is with a cross-cut shredder specifically designed to cut credit cards. If you shop for a shredder, you will notice that even modestly priced ones have this ability. If your shredder has this feature, go ahead and shred your swipe-only cards.

Note that it says swipe-only cards. If it has a chip, it is elektromüll.

[Fraufruit]

So I guess I'll start putting pieces of mine in the battery collection at Rewe.

[zeeshan]

So, what's the verdict can I put it in battery collection at super stores? As for giving it to the banks, well some banks don't have a physical presence.

[pappnase]

If you want another alternative method, many cards can be dissolved in acetone, leaving only the electronic chip and antenna.
Break the chip with a scissors and rip of the antenna (it's just a very thin wire).
No-one is putting that back together, so you can dispose of it where you like (Hell flush 1/2 of it if you want).

Or you can be a less paranoid and just use a cross cut shredder and throw it out over 2 separate rubbish collections.

EDIT: to add an image.

rfid___nfc_charliecard-exposed.png (373.68 KiB) Viewed 213 times

[Franklan]

If you want another alternative method, many cards can be dissolved in acetone, leaving only the electronic chip and antenna.

We just extended the original problem of "how to dispose of 5g of plastic" to "how to dispose of 1L of Acetone with 5g of plastic dissolved in it".

[pappnase]

Nah it only needs a small amount of acetone, and you can keep it in a jam-jar and re-use it for hundreds of cards before it gets 'full'.
Then just take it to the recycling center and get rid of it as a jar of paint-thinner.