[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by Robbu

Iron Mountain is a very reputable company with solid processes. I've used them professionally for disposal of everything from paper to server hard disks. They will meet or exceed compliance requirements for many regulations.

However, you still lose custody of your sensitive material because the shredding does not occur while you observe. That is why I recommend having your own crosscut shredder. It really comes down to your own risk vs. shredder-time tolerance.

Law firms and accounting firms use Iron Mountain to shred their confidential documents. The lawyers and CPAs are OK in ‘losing’ custody of their confidential documents to a reputable company.

Similar for universities handling confidential documents related to students where the documents are protected information under the US FERPA law (think HIPPA for education).

The Iron Mountain process seems secure to me. Google their process for a description. YMMV.

[Bealman]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Have been using my own shredder for years. Works fine unless I stick too many sheets in at one time and jam it.

Will take some time but it is the most secure.

If you want really secure, burn the shredded stuff!
BTW, Iron Mountain will come to your house if you are concerned about intermediary steps of other means. They also recycle the shredded material. Go to their website.

[Nell57]

My daughter taught me something.
I tear off the identifying information at the top of a document….and shred that.
The rest of the paper is useless if you don’t know who it belongs to……so I just throw away 3/4 of the paperwork.
If there is identifying information throughout the entire document then you will need to shred the whole thing.
I’m not comfortable “dropping off” my paperwork to a third party.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Nell57

My daughter taught me something.
I tear off the identifying information at the top of a document….and shred that.
The rest of the paper is useless if you don’t know who it belongs to……so I just throw away 3/4 of the paperwork.
If there is identifying information throughout the entire document then you will need to shred the whole thing.
I’m not comfortable “dropping off” my paperwork to a third party.

That sounds more difficult and time consuming than just shredding everything.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

That sounds more difficult and time consuming than just shredding everything.

Been shredding just the part with our name and address for years. Finding it faster this way

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Been shredding just the part with our name and address for years. Finding it faster this way

I guess you are referring to things you receive in the mail. For me, that would be practically nothing. I access almost everything online. If it is important, I will convert it to PDF file and send it to the cloud. Very little need for shredding.

[Danube]

Originally Posted by dougjb

So...in other words, I would take my very confidential papers to Staples or UPS or Pack and Ship and let them put it in a locker to which they (whoever they might be that day) have a key. After a period of time, when others of the "they" category would be at Staples or UPS or Pack and Ship, the locker would be opened to then be given to Iron Mountain who may or may not shred the documents immediately.

That does not sound very safe at all!

Iron Mountain is a multi-$billion company and they shred for many Federal Government agencies including the IRS. Rep Fine's office uses them so totally trustworthy. Besides if you're not doing anything illegal you have nothing to worry about.

[virtue51]

UPS has secure bins for shredding.