[redwitch]

The US Supreme Court has ruled there is no expectation of privacy for garbage left at the curb, whether in a plastic bag or in a garbage can due to the fact that said trash can be opened by animals, scavengers and the like. Greenwood v. State of California Therefore, whether we like it or not, people can and do pick up trash in the hopes of finding recycling items and, sadly, documents to be used for identity theft.

If you use a standard shredder, the best thing you can do is put half of a document out for recycling one week and save the second half for the following. Best is to get a diamond cut shredder.