Risks of cutting expired bank cards with scissors
Cutting bank cards whose expiration date has passed with scissors and throwing them in the trash poses serious health and environmental risks due to lithium micro batteries.
Cutting expired bank cards with scissors and throwing them away poses risks to health and the environment due to components in new generation cards. Experts issue important warnings on this matter.
Lithium Micro Battery Danger
New generation cards with dynamic security codes feature lithium micro batteries thinner than 0.5 millimeters and active electrochemical cells. Cutting these cells with scissors can cause dangerous chemical reactions.
Chemical Short Circuit and Gas Risk
Cutting lithium-ion cells can lead to a chemical short circuit and an overheating reaction. Hydrogen fluoride gas, which may be released during cutting, can turn into hydrofluoric acid when it comes into contact with moisture in the respiratory tract.
Impact on Recycling Processes
Mechanical shredding of the cards negatively affects the recycling process. Cards containing e-paper displays, NFC antennas, and batteries are evaluated within the scope of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
Loss of Precious Metals
The cards contain precious metals such as gold, palladium, silver, and copper. Breaking the cards into small pieces causes the metals to escape through the separation screens at recycling facilities.
Status of Security Concerns
Concerns that information will fall into the hands of others if the card is discarded whole have no basis in today's technology. Expired or closed cards technically become dysfunctional.