I wouldn't think the microwave would be a problem. I use a cross-cutting shredder for cds, it's less of problem than any other disposal method. However I think the shredder cost around £700 so it's not a home use option.
In the past the technique used was a propane torch and a firebrick hearth to melt down CDs and Hard Disk platters.
It takes only a second in the microwave but in my experience it does stink in the worst possible way, it may depend on whether the metalised surface is bare, printable or commercially printed.
These days I snip across the data area with a pair of tinsnips, the finely serrated edge types. One snip should make a disk unreadable as it will distort the disk and break every track, and trying to read the disk would tear the optics of the drive to pieces. Two snips, one opposite the other, makes it more secure and easy to fold over and break if desired. Half the time the disk delaminates too making it totally un-un-unreadable.
Actually, having tried it tonight I can say that it takes a *lot* less than
10 seconds. The moment you see a flash, stop the microwave. It only takes a fraction of a second and there's no burning smell. The metallic layer is completely "crazed" the moment you see sparks.
If they're CD-ROMs, you can microwave them. You need to space them apart if you're doing a batch (plastic toastrack, or else a $500 silicon wafer processing boat). You also need to do them for just long enough to nuke the data layer, but without cooking the plastic or there's a fume problem. For regular industrial use I was able to use a cheap domestic microwave from Currys, but had to mod it with a fixed timer and a single big push button.
CDs can't be nuked to reliably kill the data without getting them hot enough to cause a fume problem. Shredding is easier, although you do need a hefty shredder.
Seems a bit overkil when surely cutting the disc into pieces weither with a cheap shredder from Argos or a large pair of shears is just as good. Who in the world would bother to attempt to retrive data from broken cds. Brian
If the data is worth it you can use a microscope and read the pits by eye. It probably wont happen for a password to a bike lock but it might for a name and address of a spy. I dare say someone will have done software to read scanned images to make it quicker.
You could even remove the protective lacquer and redeposit aluminium back on the disk to make it machine readable if you wanted to spend the effort.
I do not understand this penchant for microwaving CDs! Toxic, extremely obnoxious fumes will be released. Do people just put up with the stench permeating their houses? Crazy, when there are shredders available for the price of a decent meal for two or a tankful of fuel. You actually BOUGHT a new microwave, then modded it?!! Risible, when you could have simply bought a shredder. Since I bought mine, there are new models on the market that are considerably cheaper (under 40 quid). It's a no-brainer.
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