Disposing of old hard drives

[FeFiDoh]

How do you folks usually get rid of old hard drives? I have 4 here that I need to get rid of, 2 are dead/dying, 2 are just very old and not much space on them. Do they require any sort of special waste disposal?

Thanks

 

[UnworthyBean]

They can just be chucked in the bin.
Edit - I stand corrected, see below.

Either secure erase or destroy them though before you do it if just to make sure nothing can be retrieved.

 

[Zefan]

Please don't just bin it, there are regulations in place specifically to attempt to prevent electronics/electricals making their way to landfill.

Retailers have to conform to the WEEE directive, so many of them offer free electronics recycling in store, regardless of whether you're a customer or not. Have a Google about for your local big stores. Your local tip should also have an electronics bin.

 

[varkanoid]

If you have sensitive info on use a mallet. Then take to local tip ours has an electronics area for such things. I've used a proper shredder too and they are mean devices.

 

[ANDARIAL]

Open them up
Some serious magnets in there,very handy on a piece of string to get metal objects you have dropped
Have used this to get my hammer back after dropping it 2 storeys down a cavity wall

 

[APM]

Open them up
Some serious magnets in there,very handy on a piece of string to get metal objects you have dropped
Have used this to get my hammer back after dropping it 2 storeys down a cavity wall

Blimey.

 

[Kei]

The platters also make very good drink coasters.

 

[Stephanie Peterson]

Hammer them a few times then drop off at your local tips WEEE bin.

 

[Fubsy]

The platters also make very good drink coasters.

I also do this. Also great make-up mirrors for the handbag...

 

[darael]

Remove all the platters, gouge them deeply across the entire surface, then two pairs of pliers to deform the platters.

Be careful, though - some platters were made from glass and will shatter and splinter in all directions.

 

[varkanoid]

Or make the DIY clock out of them ?

 

[VoG]

I strip them & take the platters into work, do a couple of high heat zigzag passes over them with the weld plant & there just garbage after that, toss their remains in with the rest of the metal off cuts/scrap to be recycled.

 

[havenrl]

Yeah, take out the platters, and mash them.
Then put the metal bits to be scrapped.

 

[Beerbaron]

I use a secure erase tool which i run over them and then physically smash them up

 

[pp111]

I smack them with a hammer, lol, make sure the glass disk inside is utterly shattered.

 

[bremen1874]

You’re assuming they all have glass platters? I’ve destroyed a lot of drives and almost all desktop drives have aluminium platters.

 

[kindai]

A good whack with a sledgehammer and dropped into the electronics bin at the tip.