Hoe can I securely recycle iMac with blank screen - should I remove the hard drive, and anything else?

My iMac died after 8 years - blank screen, loud fan noise, no way to erase personal info.  To recycle should I remove hard drive, and anything else?

Removing the hard drive should suffice. Use Google to find takeapart instruction, using you iMac's processor description in the search.
At eight years old, it is probably a G4 (the "desk lamp" style with an articulated display arm and white hemispherical base). So the search string would be  "iMac G4 takeapart." If it turns out to be some other processor, simply substitute that processor (G3 or G5) for "G4."
The HD may not be bad, so you could keep it and connect to a newer Mac to retrieve files using this handy and inexpensive gadget:
Newer Technology Universal Drive Adapter - connects ATA/IDE/SATA to USB2 - 2.5", 3.5", 5.25" Drives

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