4 Reasons to Shred Documents

hand holding a bunch of shredded paper

If you are not yet on the shredding bandwagon then it is time to reconsider! We have heard all the excuses from “shredding is too time-consuming” to “it costs too much” and “I am not sure what I can and can’t shred”. However, it is becoming increasingly important to protect and safeguard your personal information so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Shredding is still the #1 way to accomplish this. Still not convinced? Here are 4 reasons to start shredding today: 

  1. There’s a 1-in-33 chance you’ll have your identity stolen in the next year according to the Federal Trade Commission! Just to put that in perspective, you have a 1 in 175 million chance of winning the lottery. So if you are hoping for a lottery win, you better believe that you should be shredding those documents too!
  1. Shredding is environmentally friendly. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each recycled ton of paper fiber saves 17 trees and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. At ConfiData, once documents are shred and baled, the paper is shipped to larger paper mills throughout New York State. The mills recycle the shredded paper to make everyday products such as toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues. In short, your commitment to shredding leads to a happier, healthier earth.
  1. Trash is public property! You read that right…. once your trash reaches the curb, anyone has the right to go through it without your interference. Imagine how easy it would be for someone to rummage through your trash and say…fill out a credit card application in your name.
  1. The FBI says discarded paper is a primary source of information for identity thieves. And they know a thing or two about identity theft. In 2014 the FBI along with other government organizations recorded 17.6 million people who suffered from identity theft. That is 7% of the population. Talk about scary.

What Documents to Shred

Now that you know how important shredding is, it is time to determine what documents to shred. A general rule is to shred anything with your personal information on it. This would include anything that has at least one of the following:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone Number
  • Social Security Number
  • Bank Account Information

This could include everything from ATM receipts, credit card offers, used airline tickets, medical bills, utility bills, bank statements, resumes, and much more.

Residential Shredding Services Near You

ConfiData offers affordable residential shredding services in the Albany, Syracuse, Utica, and Binghamton areas. Have questions about how the process works? Check out our shredding FAQs or chat with one of our shredding professionals at 1-800-627-4733.