Most of us have listened to a compact disc (CD) or watched a digital video disc (DVD). But do you know what makes up the physical discs? The answer is optical media. Optical media is a type of data storage encoded into the underside of a removable plastic disc. The data is encoded using a series of bumps and pits that can be read by a laser. CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are the most common optical media formats and can be used to store a variety of data including sound and images.
Though optical media was once the height of technology, its use has declined as most data storage has moved to digital platforms. The digital shift has left many people with a stockpile of optical media in homes and offices with little knowledge of how to dispose of them securely. We’ve outlined your disposal options below, along with how to protect your privacy by safely removing data from CDs.
Why Do CDs Require Secure Disposal?
When CDs are thrown into the trash, they create environmental and health risks. We can thank the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for outlining just how dangerous these risks can be. Unfortunately, CDs can’t be recycled by most recyclers because they’re made of mixed plastic resins. This is why most discarded CDs find their way into landfills or incinerators, despite the risks. This can be hazardous in a number of ways.
Optical media is a type of data storage encoded into the underside of a removable plastic disc.
CDs contain bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to many health issues and negative developmental effects in infants. When thrown in the trash, BPA and other harmful toxins can leach into the ground and contaminate water sources. These kinds of toxins are often referred to as electronic pollution. If incinerated, CDs release toxic chemicals like sulfur dioxide, dioxins, and hydrochloric acid. These emissions can harm the human respiratory system, cause cancer, and damage plants and trees.
In addition to the environmental and health risks, improper CD disposal can also put your private data at risk. Confidential and sensitive data should always be thoroughly destroyed to prevent a data breach. Physical destruction of your CDs helps ensure your data is inaccessible and safe.
How to Remove Data from CDs
You probably remember how fragile and small CDs are. Being so easy to damage, many people think that damaging the disc will destroy the data. An online search will suggest destroying data by scratching the disc, sanding off the top layer, microwaving the disc, melting the disc, or cutting the disc with scissors. Though these methods might be effective, they aren’t proven to destroy your data (and they can be pretty messy). Many options also generate unsafe dust or fumes and ultimately leave you with CD remnants still in need of disposal.
If incinerated, CDs release toxic chemicals like sulfur dioxide, dioxins, and hydrochloric acid.
Data deletion and reformatting your CDs is a safer option as far as health concerns go, but they can still leave your data vulnerable. Hackers can often bypass formatting and erasing measures with advanced software. Professional shredding is the only option that provides irreversible data destruction with environmentally friendly disposal.
Secure CD Disposal
Just as you’d never throw confidential paperwork directly into the trash, you should never throw out CDs containing sensitive data. Optical media can hold a significant amount of information and may put many people at risk. In 2017, a single DVD containing the confidential tax data of 28,000 Canadians was lost, potentially exposing valuable personal information. Careful handling and proper disposal could have prevented this incident from occurring.
Optical media can hold a significant amount of information and may put many people at risk.
Electronics destruction services safely shred and dispose of optical media, hard drives, and other memory storage devices. The shredding process used destroys all content saved to the device and breaks it into recyclable material. Electronics destruction services are available on-site, off-site, or through mail-in services.
Securely Dispose of CDs with Shred Nations
With Shred Nations, you can keep your data secure with professional electronic destruction services for CDs and other optical media, along with cell phones, tablets, computers, and other electronics. Our nationwide network offers multiple options to fit your unique disposal needs. From certified data destruction and data center decommissioning and disposal to IT asset disposition (ITAD), corporate e-waste and IT asset recycling, and IT asset value recovery and remarketing, we can help you manage your destruction needs securely.
From San Diego to Miami, Shred Nations’ destruction experts ensure complete destruction with environmentally friendly recycling and disposal and certificates of destruction for peace of mind. Give us a call at (800) 747-3365 or fill out the form on this page to receive free quotes from reliable providers today. We are happy to answer all of your questions and find the right services to meet your business or personal needs.
