Do you SHRED IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS before throwing them in the trash?

[AviatorTom]

A Personal Paper Shredder

Security experts recommend shredding important documents before putting them in the trash. One of the common ways identify theft happens is nefarious people going through your trash to find your name, address and other information they can use to steal your identity.

In our house, we shred all important documents, using our person paper shredder. That includes anything with our name and address on it (for example, envelopes addressed to us), and any other personal information on it.

How about you?

Do you SHRED IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS before putting them in the trash?

Please vote in the poll.

YES - I have a paper shredder at home

YES - I use a shredding service

YES - I take them to work and use my work's paper shredder

SOMETIMES - I don't shred everything

NO - I never shred anything

Something ELSE - please tell

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Yes, we do.

We have shredders at home.

We even have shredders in our vacation homes.

We have shredders in our places of business where they are utilized a lot.

[AngryCarl3]

I shred anything with my name and address on it.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Depends. Bank statements go in the fire pit pile or ill hide them in something else like paper cups. If it's something ridiculous like it has my full digits to stuff I'll literally scrape it off if I have time or if that's gonna take too long I have other methods I don't reccomend for just anyone

[midnightmoon05]

At some point we had. Don’t know what hubby does with the important paper anymore…

we also don’t get important mail anymore… most of digital.

I guess we are more concern with online theft nowadays.
so far so good… when our credit cards were compromised, chased notified us.

[Chazmatazz269]

I used to, but i got rid of my shredder when i moved. Now i put my “important” documents in the landfill bin because that trash doesn’t get sorted. I sharpie out any sensitive information, and where possible i put the papers under food waste. Before i was shredding and sorting, i blacked out sensitive information and took my old documents camping with me for fire starters.

[Jersey2]

Fyi, often things that are sharpied are still legible when put up to the light.

[Chazmatazz269]

Nobody is digging through my food waste and holding my garbage up to the light for my information. I am remarkably middle class and there are better ways to get people’s information.
As my mother used to say, “I’m just keeping the honest folks honest.”

[Jersey2]

Most things are electronic today so pay close attention to guarding your key information in that environment. But when I have things that are key I will destroy the piece that has it by cutting it up or tearing it up and using different trash cans. I completely destroy Socials and credit cards. For larger scale destruction I have used buckets of water and a little bit of soap at times. The paper just falls apart after being left for a day and some added agitation.

[ohsheeT]

I do I put them into a plastic bag and then I pour Coca-Cola or Pepsi into the bag that way they all stick together and because one big blur of the concrete block of Pepsi or Coca-Cola

[OneViewpoint]

Incinerate here. A couple of times per year I purge paperwork and into the fireplace the paper goes. Nothing left but ash. Try piecing that back together.

[purplepoppy]

I burn them. Here you have to recycle paper, card, etc and you've no idea who's sorting through your rubbish.

[andreasderjuengere]

I actually do NOT shred my important documents.

Why would I do this?

Instead, I keep them safely in a place where they can't get to harm.

[sage2021]

I also take a big black marker and run it over my name and address on my junk mail before throwing it in the trash.

[sage2021]

You should also black out all of the information all boxes delivered to your house, including the bar code and QR codes.
If you can get the entire label off boxes that are delivered to you, do that and destroy it.

Dumpster divers are stealing the information from the shipping label on boxes that are thrown away in the trash outside.

[Friendlybro79]

Kindling!!! My grandma literally put back together something I shredded when I was younger to show me how you have to burn everything lol. She was very funny and a little paranoid

[KostasKouvalis]

Either shred or burn

I had to throw away a credit card recently, I cut it into pieces and mixed them up and put them in 3 different trash bags

[OlderAndWiser]

I have a crosscut shredder that I use at work, and a receptionist who does the shredding.

[exitseven]

Yes, we have a shredder at home. I shred lots of things.

[Dargil]

I tear off personal identifying information and discard it separately.

[Limited_Edition5]

Most of the time, especially when I get a new document or an update, or sometimes when using Firepit, I’ll burn it.

[Anonymous]

Actually yes, although most of my important documents are digital only. But the ones where I have a paper copy I always shred it.

[msc545]

Yes, I have a paper shredder right next to my desk. When I'm through using the piece of paper, no matter what's on it, it gets shredded.

[Nikki1989]

I use the paper shredder at work.

[TonyMetal___1986]

I don't have a shredder

[Micheal6918]

It is safer to do so

[jamesgoldman]

I burn mine

[dudeinohio]

Absolutely

[Paige2006]

No I don't

[DirtyOldMan777]

burn them

[Bklynbadboy12]

I sure do