[sjwright]

What bunkum.

Other than some exceptionally rare examples of "bit rot" where errors in manufacturing cause the chemical composition of the plastics prematurely deteriorate, a compact disc will survive at least 50 if not 100 or more years, even with the most exceptionally modest storage and handling conditions.

A scuffed CD is often perfectly playable, and can otherwise be polished back to near-perfect playability with toothpaste and/or ultra-fine sandpapers.