What's the safest way to destroy a CD or DVD?

Question

I read that Polonium (killed the former KGB spy recently) is in this media. I used to just crack them by hand, but now I'm concerned! Is it too late??

Answer 1

I don't believe that CDs contain Polonium. The reflective surface is usually Aluminum or sometimes Gold and the rest is plastic.
CD-RW uses an alloy of Silver-Indium-Antimony-Tellurium.
DVD-RW uses Germanium-Antimony-Tellurium

according to the web site below Polonium used to be used in anti static brushes for vinyl records and is still used for anti-static puspose in industry. Apparently (see references, when polunimum is used for anti static purposes it is encapsulated (wrapped) in gold.

To destroy your CDs - cut them up (either with scissors or a shredder designed for that purpose)

Answer 2

A really good paper shredder will shred CD disks too. But the Polonium you get cracking them by hand is an extremely small amount compared to the concetrated amount that too out the KGB spy.

Answer 3

Polonium is quite rare. I really doubt there is any amount worth mentioning in CDs or DVD disks.

But to answer your question: personally I use a pair of sturdy kitchen shears to clip from the outside edge to the center hole - makes them totally unreadable and doesn't send any of the aluminum/gold coating flying.

Answer 4

So you want to destroy something that you believe has a dangerous radioactive chemical in it?

Makes sense to me, I guess.

So, you can burn it and release the radioactive content into the air you're breathing, or you can chop it up into little bits so that tiny fragments of radioactive chemicals are released into the air you breath, also beating it with it a hammer, sanding it, or any other destructive means would do the trick.

Good luck on your endeavor.

Answer 5

ruin the part the place the metallic is. it relatively is the outdoors that contains the information. no longer the plastic floor which does no longer rely. ruin the CD. chop up it with an ax. Scratch it. Any way that ruins the metallic floor is sweet.

Answer 6

I break a lot of them, so if it was a problem i'd be dead. Maybe the amounts are too small, just break them and wash your hands. You can also scratch the heavily (so no one can retrieve info) and throw them away whole.

Answer 7

Use sand paper and grind off the entire top surface.

Answer 8

I don't know. I never heard of that before. i usually just break them in half with my hands too.

Answer 9

Shred them. There are CD shredders out there. you can find them online.
http://www.nextag.com/cd-shredder/search-html

Answer 10

Melt it down