"Tragically, most will probably get recycled or sent to landfill"

Unless a CD or vinyl is of sentimental value or a possible "Collector's Item", then as long as you have a good copy in a safe format are you actually losing out by just disposing of the original in "land fill"?

I know that seems a terrible waste and I, personally, would be loathe to chuck CDS out like that but maybe it's the correct and, technically, legal thing to do?