It was once extremely uncommon for documents to be shredded by non-government entities. Until a 1984 Supreme Court case ruled that information can be seized through a defendants trash receptacle without warrant.  As soon as this ruling was made this became a very large concern about liability and the vulnerabilities that it was creating for those not properly destroying their documents.

The United States Federal Trade Commission estimates that over 9 million cases of identity theft occurs per year. It is recommended by the federal government that individuals defend themselves against identity theft by shredding any document that contains personal information.

Furthermore, privacy laws such as HIPPA, FACTA, and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, require companies to properly destroy personal documents to avoid the unauthorized disclosure of personal information. If these documents are not properly destroyed, the law now says it carries both criminal and civil implications if not properly destroyed.

The following documents are examples of what should be shred:

• Social Security Cards
• Birth Certificates
• Copies of Wills
• Death Certificates
• Marriage Licenses
• Divorce Papers
• Military Records

Shred for your safety, yourself, and your employees. Contact us for more information about how we can help save you.