How to dispose of a tarot deck that's be

A ruined tarot deck doesn't need a ceremony, but it does deserve a little thought before it goes in the bin.

Common, respectful ways

• Recycle it. Most standard Rider–Waite–style decks are cardboard with a printed finish — they go in paper recycling like any other card stock. If it's coated or laminated, your local rules may want it in general waste.
• Compost or bury it. If the cards are plain paper/cardboard, wrap them in a natural cloth or a plain envelope and bury them, or add them to a compost pile. Some readers do this when a deck has been with them through a hard chapter.
• Burn it, safely. A small, outdoor burn in a metal container is the choice some traditions prefer — never indoors, never near anything flammable, and check local burn rules first. Laminated or plastic-coated cards give off fumes, so don't burn those.
• Give it a second life. Even a ruined deck can become collage material, a study set for a beginner learning the card images, or cut up for art/journals.

A small thank-you, if you want one

A sentence out loud — "thanks for the work" — is enough. No formal rite is required.

One thing to avoid

Don't pass a structurally damaged deck to someone else as if it were whole. If images are peeling or cards are warped to the point they don't lie flat or shuffle cleanly, mark it clearly as "for art/parts" before it leaves your hands.