Environmental concerns over cutting credit cards

Cutting up expired credit cards, a long-standing practice to prevent fraud, is now being discouraged by financial institutions and recycling professionals due to environmental and health concerns. The traditional method of destroying cards by cutting them has been found to pose risks, particularly due to the presence of micro-batteries in modern cards.

Risks from micro-batteries in cards

These batteries, which power dynamic cryptograms that change every hour, can cause chemical short circuits if the card is cut, potentially releasing hydrogen fluoride, a corrosive gas that can cause severe harm upon contact with moisture in the eyes or respiratory system.

Credit cards as electronic waste

The shift in recommendation comes as credit cards have evolved into electronic and electrical waste (DEEE), containing valuable metals such as gold, copper, and palladium. In France alone, with 112 million cards in circulation, the total amount of gold contained in these cards is approximately 120 kg.

Recycling benefits and current challenges

Recycling this gold emits 93% less CO2 than traditional mining, yet the current collection rate remains below 6%, with most cards ending up incinerated with household waste, losing potential resources that could be reused in manufacturing new components or recycled materials.

Security improvements reduce need for card destruction

Security experts indicate that the fear of fraud is largely unfounded, as once a card is disabled or expired in a bank's system, it becomes inoperative. Additionally, new security standards, such as strong authentication (DSP2), make online purchases without access to a smartphone nearly impossible.

Banks now encourage returning whole cards

As a result, the practice of cutting cards is no longer considered necessary for security. In fact, banks such as BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, and Caisse d'Épargne now request that customers return entire cards rather than destroy them, as this facilitates proper sorting and recycling by robots that separate metals from plastic.

Recommended steps for cardholders

The recommended action for consumers is to confirm through their banking application that the card is indeed blocked or expired, and then return the card to a branch or use pre-paid collection envelopes provided by some networks. This approach helps protect health, supports the supply of critical metals, and ensures banks can meet their recycling obligations.