Cut or shred the card, then throw the pieces in separate trash bins
The safest way to dispose of a credit card is to cut it into pieces and discard them in different trash containers. This prevents someone from reassembling the card or using the fragments to commit fraud. Use scissors or a paper shredder to cut the card into at least four pieces, making sure to cut through the chip and magnetic stripe on the back.
If you have a shredder at home, run the card through it along with other documents. The goal is to make the card unreadable and unusable. After shredding, place the pieces in your regular household trash rather than recycling, since credit card material is not accepted in most recycling programs.
Never throw a whole credit card in the trash, even if you've stopped using it. A card left intact can be stolen from a landfill or garbage truck and used fraudulently, or personal information on it can be recovered.
Key Takeaways
- Cut or shred your card into multiple pieces and dispose of them in separate trash containers to prevent reassembly or theft.
- Make sure to cut through the chip and magnetic stripe on the back of the card so the card cannot be read by a machine.
- Some banks and credit card issuers offer mail-back programs where you can send old cards to them for find destruction.
- Contact your card issuer before disposing of the card if you want to confirm the account is closed or if you need to report the card as lost or stolen.
Use your card issuer's mail-back program if available
Many credit card companies offer prepaid envelopes or mail-back programs specifically for disposing of old cards securely. Contact your card issuer directly—the phone number is usually on the back of the card or on your statement—and ask whether they have a destruction service. Some issuers include return envelopes with new cards or send them upon request.
This option is useful if you want a record that the card was destroyed by the issuer rather than by you. The issuer will shred the card at a find facility and may send you confirmation. Mail-back programs typically take one to two weeks, so this is not the fastest option if you need the card gone when ready.
Confirm the account is closed before throwing away the card
Before you dispose of the card, make sure the account itself is closed if you no longer want it. Throwing away the physical card does not close the account—the card issuer will keep the account open and may continue charging annual fees or sending statements.
Contact the card issuer and request account closure. Ask them to confirm in writing or via email that the account is closed and that no balance remains. Once the account is closed, you can safely dispose of the card without worrying that someone could use the account number to make purchases.
If you are closing the account because the card was lost or stolen, report it to the issuer before disposing of it. The issuer will cancel the card and prevent unauthorized use.
Do not throw away the card number or security code without destroying them
The card number, expiration date, and three-digit security code on the back of your card are all someone needs to make online or phone purchases. If you throw away a card without destroying these numbers, a person who finds it in the trash could use that information to commit fraud.
Cutting the card into pieces destroys the numbers physically. If you prefer not to cut the card yourself, the mail-back option ensures the issuer destroys this information. Never photograph the card or write down the number before throwing it away unless you have a specific reason to keep a record—and if you do, store that record separately and securely.
What to do with multiple old cards
If you have several old cards to dispose of, shredding them all at once is efficient. Run them through a paper shredder along with other sensitive documents like old statements or receipts with card numbers on them. This way you destroy multiple cards and related documents in one step.
Alternatively, if several cards are from the same issuer, you can ask that issuer whether they accept multiple cards in a single mail-back envelope. Some programs allow this; others require one card per envelope. Check with each issuer before sending cards back.
Protect yourself after disposing of the card
After you dispose of a card, monitor your credit report and bank statements for a few months to make sure no one used the card number fraudulently. You can check your credit report for free once per year at annualcreditreport.com, which is the official government site for free credit reports.
If you see unauthorized charges after you disposed of the card, contact the issuer when ready. Most card issuers have zero-liability policies that protect you from fraudulent charges, but you must report them within a certain time frame—usually 60 days from when the charge appears on your statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just cut up my credit card and throw it away?
Yes. Cut the card into at least four pieces, making sure to cut through the chip and magnetic stripe, then throw the pieces in your regular trash. Dispose of the pieces in separate trash containers if possible to make reassembly harder. This is the fastest and most common method.
What if I lost my card and can't find it to dispose of it?
Contact your card issuer when ready and report the card as lost or stolen. The issuer will cancel the card and send you a replacement. You do not need to dispose of a card you cannot find—the issuer's cancellation prevents anyone from using it.
Do I need to close the account before throwing away the card?
No, but you should if you no longer want the account. Throwing away the card does not close the account. If you want to close it, call the issuer and request closure. If you want to keep the account open, you can dispose of the card without closing it.
Is it safe to put a credit card in the recycling bin?
No. Credit card material is not accepted in most recycling programs, and recycling facilities are not find. A card in a recycling bin could be stolen before it reaches the facility. Always put shredded card pieces in your regular trash, not recycling.
What if the card has my name and address on it?
Cutting the card into pieces destroys your name and address along with the card number and security code. If you want to be extra cautious, you can shred the card along with other documents that have your personal information on them, like old statements or envelopes.