How to Dispose of Old Documents Safely

How to dispose of old documents safely starts with sorting, not shredding. Some papers need to be kept for years, some can go straight into recycling, and some carry enough personal information that they should be shredded first. Getting the sort right protects you from identity theft without turning a cleanout into a week of feeding a home shredder.

Sort into three piles

1. Keep: documents you still need, such as current tax records, deeds, titles, insurance policies, wills, and records for property you still own.
2. Shred: anything with Social Security numbers, account numbers, signatures, birth dates, medical details, or passwords.
3. Recycle: papers with little or no personal data, such as old manuals, catalogs, newsletters, and generic mail.

When in doubt, put it in the shred pile.

How long to keep common records

These are general starting points; your situation, state rules, and your tax advisor may call for longer.

• Tax returns and supporting records: the IRS generally has three years to audit a return, longer in some cases. Many people keep returns themselves indefinitely and supporting receipts for at least three to seven years.
• Home purchase and improvement records: until you sell the home and for several years after, since they affect capital gains.
• Pay stubs: until they match your annual tax form.
• Bank and credit card statements: until you have checked them, unless they support a tax deduction.
• Vehicle titles, deeds, and wills: while you own the asset or the document is in force.

Shredding options

• Home cross-cut or micro-cut shredder. Fine for a steady trickle of mail. Strip-cut shredders leave long strips that are easier to reassemble.
• Community shred events. Many cities, banks, and credit unions host free shred days where a truck shreds boxes of paper on site. These are ideal for big cleanouts.
• Drop-off shredding services. Some office supply and shipping stores take paper by the pound for secure shredding.
• Mail-in or pickup services for businesses and very large volumes.

Can shredded paper be recycled?

Policies vary. Some curbside programs accept shredded paper if it is bagged in a clear or paper bag, while others ban it because the small pieces jam sorting equipment. Check your program’s rules. Shredded paper can also go in a home compost pile in moderate amounts or be used as packing material.

Papers that need special care

• Medical records and prescription labels: shred, or black out personal details.
• Old checks and checkbooks: shred; they show account and routing numbers.
• Photos and negatives: most paper recycling programs do not accept glossy photo paper. Shred or trash.
• Documents in binders or folders: remove metal and plastic before recycling the paper.

Digital copies and devices

If you scan documents before shredding, store the files securely with backups. When you retire old computers, phones, or drives that held scanned records, wipe or destroy the storage; see retiring an old hard drive.

How to dispose of old documents FAQ

What documents should I shred?

Anything with Social Security numbers, account numbers, signatures, birth dates, medical information, or passwords.

Can I recycle shredded paper?

Some programs accept it bagged; others do not because it jams sorting machines. Check your local rules.

How long should I keep tax records?

The IRS generally has three years to audit, longer in some cases. Many people keep returns indefinitely and supporting records for three to seven years.

Where can I shred a lot of documents at once?

Look for community shred events, often hosted by cities, banks, or credit unions, or use a paid drop-off shredding service.

Can I burn old documents instead of shredding?

Many areas restrict open burning, and burning paper in a fireplace can be a fire hazard. Shredding is safer and widely available.

The bottom line

How to dispose of old documents comes down to keep, shred, or recycle. Hold onto tax, property, and legal papers as long as you need them, shred anything with personal or account information, and recycle the rest according to your local program. For big cleanouts, a community shred event saves hours.