How to Dispose of Personal Papers

Home Shredder

• 1

  Plug in the shredder and switch it on.

• 2

  Take a few sheets of paper and keeping them upright; let the shredder to pull them out of your hands. Use your outstretched palms to keep the paper straight. Consult the manufacturer's instructions on the maximum number of sheets that can be shredded at once.

• 3

  When the shredding is complete, switch off the machine and unplug it.

• 4

  Remove the lid and put it to one side. Scoop out the shredded paper and put it in your recycling container. Remove strips of paper from inside the lid and put it with the rest of the paper.

Professional Shredding

• 5

  Check that the National Association for Information Destruction -- NAID, certifies any companies you approach. The Association has the role of independent auditor. Companies registered with NAID fulfill twenty-two standards. These cover background checks on their employees to the size of the shredded paper. There are more than 142 companies specializing in shredding and of these, about thirty have the coveted AAA certificate authorized by NAID.

• 6

  Contain a selection of NAID's AAA certified companies and request at least three estimates.

• 7

  Ask your shredding service provider for a Certificate of Destruction. It will provide you with peace of mind. In some cases, you may even be able to request that you attend the actual shredding.