Unclutterer, a blog about … uncluttering your life, has posted a summary of what documents you can safely shred as soon as possible, which can wait , and which should never be shred.
The article is geared more towards individuals than companies and you should obviously consult with your lawyers before you shred something sensitive.
Here’s a snippet of the lists:
Shred Now:
- Credit card applications
- Any piece of unwanted paper that contains: addresses, account numbers or access information, birth dates, budgets, photocopies of “never shred� documents listed below, drivers license numbers, employment information, envelopes and address labels, estimates, legal papers, luggage tags, medical information, passwords, report cards, signatures, social security numbers, transcripts, travel itineraries, used airline tickets, and anything you wouldn’t feel comfortable having a stranger read
- Expired credit cards, bank cards, passports, visas, and identification cards (college, military, employee badges, etc.)
- Credit checks on tenants or other home employees (contractors, nannies, etc.) immediately after evaluating the information
…
Never Shred:
- Marriage, birth, divorce, and death certificates
- Military service records
- Insurance policies and claims
- Wills
- Power of attorney documents
- Social security reports
- Year-end retirement and investment account statements and policies
- Loan and mortgage paid-in-full documentation
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Medical records
- Current resume
- Evaluation and receipts of valuables (jewelry, artwork, etc.)
- Tax returns and associated financial documentation (1040 forms)
- Securities and trade confirmations