Stupid Mac Problem.

[Bramleyboy]

When I go to empty my trash I click on the icon, 'empty trash' and then a box appears which asks me if I want to securely empty the trash. There is no other option and then the trash icon appears with maybe, say 100 items, which then start to climb and after two minutes it something like 230,546 items. I've left it for a couple of days and it's only down to halfway. I still haven't managed to empty it. Other times it's just normal and empties say 50 or80. `i've tried asking the 'young luvvies' who work in the Apple shops and they have no idea what I'm talking about I get crazy looks! Any ideas what's happening. Bramley.

[Buenchico]

I've not used a Mac since I completed my college journalism course about 20 years ago, so I'm somewhat out of my depth here.

However, completely zapping your trash can with this (which appears to be recommended on several websites relating to Mac trash problems) might be a good starting point:
http://www.nonamescriptware.com/

[Gromit]

There are several ways to empty the trash on a Mac.
There is no such thing as the 'Empty Trash icon', so not sure what that is about?

The standard way is to click on 'Finder' at the top of the screen which gives you 2 options, 'Empty Trash' and 'Secure Empty Trash'.

Or, double click on the Trash can in the dock, and a pane will open displaying what items are in the trash. At the top of the pane is a little cog symbol which reveals a drop-down menu with empty trash being one option.

If the items in the trash grows to 230,000 it sounds like you are inadvertantly trashing something in the system.