What to shred and what not to shred?

What items Cannot be shredded?

ITEMS THAT CANNOT BE SHREDDED: GARBAGE AND FOOD PRODUCTS • WET PAPER • LARGE METAL ITEMS OR 3-RING BINDERS • WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS • PLASTICS INCLUDING STYROFOAM • TONER CARTRIDGES • VCR OR MAGNETIC TAPES • CD'S, DVD'S OR X-RAYS • BACKUP/STORAGE MEDIA (FLASHDRIVES, ETC.)

What things should be shredded?

What materials can be shredded?

Why shredding is not a good idea?

Paper shredders increase security risks. You shred your documents to prevent identity theft and maintain the confidentiality of your information. But your paper shredding machine doesn't offer the most secure method for completely destroying confidential information.

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Should you shred your mail?

You should shred any mail you don't need to hang on to including bills, notices from the DMV, IRS, and Social Security Administration, etc. In fact, anything containing any personal information should go into the shredder if you don't need to save it. While this may seem a bit excessive, it isn't really.

How long should you keep bills before shredding?

In case you require them for tax deductions, you should keep for three years. Bank statements: Statements should be reviewed every month and stored for year-end accounting purposes. Once taxes are filed, documents can be shredded and, if necessary, your financial institution should be readily available.

Can you shred plastic sleeves?

The plastic can damage the paper shredder because the material might clog up the cutting blades. It is also not recommended to shred plastic material because the particles will end up with the paper particles, this does not benefit the recycling of the paper shreds.

Can you put CDs in Shred It bin?

Our unique technology can even destroy other materials like fabric, plastic, electronics and metals. Yes, that means CDs, USB drives, videotapes, DVDs and even casino chips.

Can you shred paper clips?

Professional paper shredders can easily cut through staples, paper clips and even binder clips. So you don't have to waste time removing them.

Should I shred my utility bills?

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Utility bills such as electricity, gas, council tax and internet etc.

What papers should I keep?

Should I shred old tax returns?

While it's not recommended, if you file your tax return and fail to report more than 25% of your gross income, wait to shred those W-2s, 1099s, and other tax forms for 6 years in case of an IRS audit.

What do you put in a shred bin?

Paperwork, files & documents of all kinds are safe

When it comes to your secure shredding bins, it is safe to say that any paperwork that has sensitive information can be put in. This includes client files, business documents, employee records, contact lists, financial records, tax papers, etc.

Can spiral notebooks go in shredder?

Things to Shred

Confidential documents. Outdated printed files and forms. Manila and colored filing folders (NO army green folders – not paper) Spiral bound notebooks and presentation papers.

What can you put in a shred it box?

Most paper-based items are safe for Shred-it containers so long as they are not in contact with anything flammable. Don't worry about separating items that have been stapled or clipped together, either; small metal items like paper clips can also be thrown in.

Can you put a plastic bag in a shredder?

Yes you can and I am using a thinner garbage bags since the bin has to be put back proplerly in order to operate the shredder.

Can binders be shredded?

We can shred any type of material including paper, film, tapes, 3-ring binders, and staples. No need to remove rubber bands, binder clips, or staples before shredding begins.

Can you shred envelopes?

Envelopes with cellophane windows are not recommended to be shredded because they can cause undue jamming. Unopened envelopes should never be passed through the shredder because the thickness may exceed maximum sheet capacity and it may include non-paper items such as credit cards or coins. 2 of 2 found this helpful.

Can page protectors be shredded?

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your help. Materials that are currently unacceptable: *Anything plastic including report covers, paper protectors, bubble pack mailers, x-rays, shrink wrapped items, transparencies, binders, CD's and floppy disks.

Can you shred cardboard?

Paper shredders will shred cardboard as long as you opt for a heavy-duty model. A 12 sheet shredder is the minimum size I would look at getting, but an 18 or 24 sheet shredder would be better, especially if you want to shred lots of thick corrugated cardboard. Amazon basics shredders go all the way up to 24 sheets.

Can you shred newspaper in a paper shredder?

Passing newspaper through a standard paper shredder is ideal. You can also buy shredding scissors for small amounts of paper. Newspaper is a brown, or carbon-based organic material, so you should incorporate it in the brown layers in your pile.

Is there any reason to keep old bank statements?

Keep them as long as needed to help with tax preparation or fraud/dispute resolution. And maintain files securely for at least seven years if you've used your statements to support information you've included in your tax return.

How long should you keep Cancelled checks?

Keep canceled checks for one year unless you need them for tax purposes. Refer to them when you reconcile your accounts each month so you know what has cleared. If your bank does not return your canceled checks, you can request a copy for up to five years.

How long do I keep 401k statements?

In general, 401k plan records must be kept for a period of not less than six years after the filing date of the IRS Form 5500 created from those records.