01 Oct To Shred or Not to Shred
Though digital records are becoming more and more popular in the technological age in which we live, keeping paper documents is not a forgotten practice. Though paper shredding is our passion, Greenway understands that there are some paper documents that need to be kept. Today, we are here to answer your shredding questions – what should you keep and what should you shred?
What Should you Keep?
There are many documents that need to be kept regardless of the personal information that they include. The rule of thumb when deciding if you need to keep or get rid of a document is how hard it is to replace a physical copy. Many documents can be obtained through the government but can be a hassle to recover if lost or shredded.
Here are some of the documents that you should keep forever:
- Birth and Death Certificates
- Social Security Cards
- ID Cards and Passports
- Marriage Licenses
- Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
- House Deeds and Mortgage Documents
- Vehicle Titles
These documents should be kept in a safe and secret place in case you need them for any unforeseen reasons. For even more security, many people keep these documents in a fire-proof safe to protect them from both possible physical damage and from being stolen.
So, What Should you Shred?
Everything else.
It may seem obvious, but you need to shred anything you plan to throw away that includes information you want to protect. Did you know that according to the law, you lose all privacy rights for material that has been placed into a trashcan and discarded? Document destruction services are designed to protect sensitive information and can do so while practicing environmental responsibility.
Plan to shred anything that includes the following information:
- Personal Information (Name and Address)
- Social Security Number or Information
- Debit/Credit Card Information
- Sensitive Financial Information
By shredding these documents, you reduce the risk of misplacing personal information or records getting into the wrong hands. In addition, you remove unnecessary mess and bulk from your home.
What About Digital Records?
Digital records also play a very important role in secure document keeping. Digital files are a great secondary source in case original physical documents are damaged or lost. Two of the main benefits or utilizing digital records are maximum data security and space saving.
- Maximum Security: digital safe keeping is much more secure than storing an important document in a storage bin or file cabinet. There is no risk of physical damage to digital files, and safe servers can protect your documents from digital thieves.
- Space Saving: less physical space is necessary for the storage of digital files, meaning saved space in your home. No need to pile documents around when you can store them virtually.
So, though there are some documents you should save and some you should shred, it may make sense to make digital copies of both kinds of documents for safe keeping and peace of mind.
Let Greenway Help You Shred!
Greenway’s document destruction services protect sensitive information while practicing environmental responsibility. We offer fast, friendly, and reliable paper, hard drive, and other media storage shredding. Our walk-in services are HIPAA-compliant. We will provide a Certificate of Destruction after service so that you can rest assured your personal information is safe.
Whether it is a couple of boxes or a warehouse full of boxes, let Greenway Shredding & Recycling haul off and destroy your unwanted and confidential information. Contact us today for more information about our shredding services or visit our website.