Nearly 25 million Americans experience consumer fraud each year, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). One way crooks can obtain your private information is by rummaging through trash or recyclables — also known as “dumpster diving.” Shredding that paper before it hits the streets is a good way to protect yourself from identity theft and other forms of fraud.

 

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Tax time is an ideal time for organizing important paperwork. If you are in doubt about how long to keep important documents, consult your tax advisor or the IRS. Then, before discarding them, shred all financial documents, including bank statements, insurance forms, utility bills, pre-approved credit card applications and anything else you wouldn’t want to fall into the wrong hands
 
It’s also a good idea to shred anyone else’s private information before tossing it, too — whether it’s information about your family, friends, clients or contractors. In fact, if you use consumer reports (such as credit reports or employment background reports on prospective nannies, contractors or tenants), you are required to abide by the FTC’s Disposal Rule. The Disposal Rule requires individuals as well as organizations to destroy and dispose of information in such a way that prevents unauthorized access to it. For more information, visit www.ftc.gov.
 
Shredded paper is recyclable. Collect the shredding in a paper bag (plastic bags complicate things at the recycling facility), staple or tape it shut to keep it from blowing all over the neighborhood, and place it curbside with the rest of your paper recycling. It’s usually okay if the bag contains a few staples, paper clips, or shredded credit cards. Another option is to contact your local humane society or animal shelter. They can use your shredded paper (paper only — no metal or plastic) for animal bedding and litter purposes.

 

One note about safety: Keep your shredder unplugged when you’re not using it, especially if you have children or pets. Accidents have happened.
 
Don’t Have a Shredder?

 

 

When choosing a paper shredder for your home, expect to get what you pay for. You can spend anywhere from $10 to $100 or more; somewhere in the middle will suffice for most homes. Here are some things to look for:

 

1. Shred type and size. Choose cross cut or confetti cut for the best security.
   
   
2. Workload capacity and durability. Consider sheet capacity (how many pieces of paper you can feed into the shredder at once) as well as frequency of use. If you want to shred an entire unopened credit card application, envelope and all, you’ll need a shredder that can handle many sheets of paper at once. If you plan to shred documents for more than a few minutes at a time, choose a shredder with a motor that can run longer before overheating.
   
   
3. Handling of nonpaper items. If you plan to shred documents containing staples, be sure your shredder can take it. Ditto for paper clips, credit cards and CDs.
   
   
4. Wastebasket size and features. Choose a size that will fit well into your space, but not so small that you’ll have to empty it too frequently. I like shredders with separate, pull-out wastebaskets; they’re less messy when it’s time to empty them.
   
   
5. Safety and convenience. Automatic shut off is a good feature to mitigate paper jams. A reverse switch helps with this, too. Automatic on/off is another handy feature that senses whether there is paper in the machine. It starts when you insert a piece of paper, and it quits until the next piece of paper comes in.

Too Much to Shred?

As you organize your paperwork, you may uncover a large volume of paper to shred. It could take you hours to shred it all, and your shredder might overheat and/or shorten its lifespan. In this case, consider hiring a document destruction company to do it for you. Look in the yellow pages under “Paper Shredding,” or do an Internet search for companies that serve your area.

 

 

About Jennifer Swanson

Jennifer Swanson is a professional organizing consultant, speaker, writer and active mother of three. She is a regular contributor to several publications, including her own popular monthly e-zine, where she offers practical ideas and encouragement to help you simplify your life. For more tips and a free e-zine subscription, visit www.JenniferSwanson.com .