PSA: Remember to also check hidden directories you don't even know about for waste of space
Apparently, Prism Launcher chose to adhere to the idiotic principle of the hidden "trashbin", .Trash-$(uid), invented by Ubuntu. Even though it's based on QT. This can't be disabled. It accumulated 139 GB of literal Trash, fully replaceable, over time. Just ... why?
There's even an open issue about this, for over a year, referenced multiple times.
I guess I have another point on my agenda.
Hard delete used to be in the drop-down along with move to Trash, since I rarely accidentally delete things and when I do I have backups, I much preferred that arrangement.
Depending on your file manager, you may be able to hold Shift while triggering the delete to get a hard delete.
Shift+Del is pretty much standardized as the keyboard shortcut. And here on KDE, I can hold Shift while clicking the "Move to Trash" menu entry, too (well, it actually replaces the menu entry with one for permanent deletion, but that's effectively the same).
I don't use mate, but assuming that it has a file manager and that file manager has hotkeys that conform to the muscle memory that is built using other file managers... Try it and see what happens?
@troyunrau Ok did try, delete + center button mouse click does remove the file however since the only delete on my keyboard is right side and I'm right handed handed and and thus also use the mouse right hand, not terribly useful.
@troyunrau Not complaining, just explaining my choice for a particular desktop and preferences. I realize it's open source and I realize I have the source so if it's severe enough I have the option of modifying it. If only I had infinite time.