The increasingly growing crime of Identity Theft in recent years has caused Federal and State Governments to mandate that personal information be properly destroyed.  Research shows that identity theft information is still largely gathered through paper based materials rather than electronic or internet sources.  Over 9 million people last year were the victim of identity theft because of  the improper disposal of their personal information.  It is recommended that any documentation that contains an individual's name, social security number, address, account numbers or phone numbers should be destroyed.  This information can be found on charge bills, credit applications, health care records, tax returns, junk mail, and various other sources.  Most companies which conduct business within the United States are effected by these recommendations as well as individuals. 

What Should You Shred ?

Anything you would not want in the hands of others. 

Business - Trade secrets, personal client information, reports, payroll information, contracts, budgets, canceled checks, manuals, drawings, vendor records, supplier records, medical records, health records, employee records, safety records, product information, blue prints, advertising, inventory records, client list, etc.

Personal - Tax returns, insurance information, bank information, canceled checks, all financial statements, credit card statements, receipts containing credit card numbers or other personal information, medical records, wills, deceased information, etc.

On-Site Document Shredding Is The Most Secure And Reliable Method Of Information Destruction

FEDERAL LAWS

Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) 2003
     Effecting all businesses and persons who collect personal information for business purposes.  Requires the destruction of all such information in electronic and paper form.
Economic Espionage Act(EEA) 1996
     Businesses or persons must protect all forms and types of financial, business, scientific, technical, economic, or engineering information in their possession in any format that is not known to the public.
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act(GLB Act) 1999
     Requires the protection and proper destruction of all consumer information held by financial institutions.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act(HIPPA) 1996
     Requires health care organizations to have appropriate measures in place to protect patient medical records, patient logs, insurance, billing, and other personal patient information.
USA Patriot Act 2001
     Requires all businesses and persons to protect all information in order to deter and obstruct any act of terrorism.

STATE LAW

California Senate Bill 1386 2003
     Requires companies to disclose and notify consumers if consumer information maintained in their date files has been breached.
California Civil Code (Section 1798) 
     Requires businesses to take all steps necessary to protect client information in their possession and properly destroy such information through shredding, erasing, or otherwise so that it is non legible once it is no longer necessary to be retained.