Paper Recycling and Identity Theft

Which is safer to protecting the information written on your discarded paper: recycling or trash disposal? Some people think the trash is better. In fact, neither method is secure for personal, or confidential information.

Always shred personal, confidential or sensitive documents. Then, you may add them to your paper recycling. Shredded paper instructions

Shredders are now readily available over a wide price range. Or, at a minimum, tear out and rip up name, address, account information, and the like, by hand.

Cardboard box instructions

We no longer require you to flatten cardboard boxes for recycling. However, flattened boxes help collection crews work more efficiently and help protect your information.

Whether you set them out for recycling or trash collection, labels and printing on unflattened boxes can advertise to thieves that your household has a brand-new computer, television, or other electronic or valuable items.

• Cut out labels with model and serial numbers. These can be handy references (and beat craning your neck at strange angles while hunting for that information on the device itself).
• Flatten boxes and tuck them into your wheeled cart for paper recycling.
• Another option is to put the flattened boxes into a smaller cardboard box for collection.
• Or, tie flattened boxes into bundles with twine.

Shredded paper instructions

Please prepare your shredded paper for recycling collection. We worry that shredded paper will blow around your neighborhood while awaiting collection or while being emptied into the collection truck.

Place paper shreds into a paper bag and staple or tape it shut. Then, add this bag to your other paper recyclables.

Or, "sandwich" your unbundled shreds in your wheeled cart for paper recycling. Have a layer of unshredded paper or cardboard at the bottom of your cart. Add your shredded paper. Before setting the cart out for collection, add more unshredded paper or cardboard.

Resources about Identity Theft

• "How to Protect Your Good Name from Identity Theft" - Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Identity Theft - Federal Trade Commission