What to do with expired credit cards
The safest thing you can do with an old credit card is destroy it. So get your scissors and follow the 4 quick steps below.
Key takeaways
- To prevent identity fraud, thoroughly destroy expired credit cards by cutting the account number magnetic strip and chip.
- Most credit cards are not recyclable due to PVC plastic so dispose of cut pieces in different bins.
- Your new credit card has a different expiry and CVV, requiring updates for recurring payments.
What to do with your old credit card
Once you've activated the replacement card, you can get rid of your old card. But don't throw it straight into the bin, because someone could find it.
If that happens, they usually wouldn't be able to use the expired card for new transactions. What they could do, though, is use the personal information listed on the card or the data stored in the card's magnetic strip for identity fraud. So you should destroy the old card before throwing it out.
How to destroy your expired credit card
Here are the steps you can take to safely dispose of your expired credit card:
- Cut your card horizontally. Use a strong pair of scissors to cut through your card lengthways. Make sure you cut through the account number, your signature on the back and the magnetic strip (which contains your personal information).
- Cut your card vertically. Cut the pieces of your card from top to bottom, with space between the cuts at every 2-4 digits.
- Cut through the CVV code. Your CVV number (or security code) is 3- or 4-digits on your card that you usually need to enter when you shop online. Find this part of your card and cut it into small pieces so that it can't be read or put back together.
- Destroy the chip. This is the silver or gold square chip that's usually found on the side of your card. You can cut this up with scissors (or smash it with a hammer if you want to have some fun).
Once you've cut up your card so that the pieces can't be put back together, you can dispose of the card. You should throw the separate fragments away in a few different bins so that the pieces can't be recovered and put back together.
Are credit cards recyclable?
Most credit cards are not recyclable because they are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a type of plastic that is difficult to recycle.
So if you put a regular credit card (or cut-up pieces of a credit card) into your recycling bin, it will be considered as "contaminated recycling" and could end up in landfill.
The good news is that there is some change happening in this space. For example, TerraCycle Australia offers a Plastic Cards Zero Waste Box that can recycle credit cards, debit cards, gift cards and other plastic cards. The prices for these boxes start at $193, making it an option that's more suited to community centres or organisations than individuals.
More sustainable and recyclable cards are also starting to become available. For example:
- Mastercard has a worldwide sustainability initiative that includes producing cards that are recyclable, recycled and/or created from bio-sourced materials.
- American Express gives card members reply-paid envelopes so they can return a metal card once it has expired.
- Fintech company Hay offers a payment card that is made of 85% biodegradable material.
- The MONEYME Cashback Rewards Credit Card is a digital card that's added to your mobile wallet so you can pay from your phone or other device, without adding a plastic card to your physical wallet.
These are just a handful of examples that show card recycling could be easier in the future. For now, focus on cutting up the details on your old card and putting it in the bin, or into a TerraCycle Zero Waste Plastic Cards Box if you can get one in your area.
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