How to delete or remove the Recycle Bin in Windows 7 or Vista

If you no longer want to use the Windows Recycle Bin you can easily remove the icon from your desktop.

* Before you do this, make sure you have no files in the recycle bin that you want to keep because they will be deleted automatically when the recycle bin icon is removed. *

Windows 7

To remove the Recycle Bin from the Windows 7 desktop, right click on the desktop, then choose Personalize from the menu.

Click Change desktop icons on the top left-hand side of the new window that opens.

In the Desktop Icon Settings window, uncheck the Recycle Bin checkbox, then click Apply.

Now, the recycle bin icon will be gone from your desktop. Any files you delete from now on will be permanently deleted.

You will be shown a confirmation dialog box before you delete a file as usual.

Windows Vista

This is ridiculously simple so I'm not going to bother with a screenshot, just right click on the recycle bin icon then choose delete from the menu. Gone!