How To: Force Windows Recycle Bins to Empty for Every User on a System

If you have multiple user accounts on your Windows computer and are running low on space, you can easily empty the recycling bin for all users with a single command line, assuming your user account has administrator privileges. Try one of the two command lines below depending on your operating system.

For Windows 7 or Server 2008 enter this command:

rd /s c:\$Recycle.Bin

For Windows XP, Vista, or Server 2003 enter this command:

rd /s c:\recycler