Electronics

[Cats3000]

We wouldn't hand personal papers to ANYONE.  We have an excellent home shredder.  We've had it for a number of years.  We keep up with what we no longer need, but it still is a multi-day process for us.

[VaBelle35]

Our city sponsors this once a year during Earth Day festivities.

What you might consider doing in the future for your every day stuff is to rip just the part with your name/address on it to save wear and tear on your shredder.

I open everything and make sure my name only appears in once place, usually on the envelope, and just rip off the piece with my name vs putting the whole envelope or the whole contents in the shredder.

[Moonchilde]

Hospitals consider patient confidentiality a very high priority - probably the highest priority after saving lives. As

@software said, every department has one or more locked receptacles where employees deposit anything with identifying information on it. When the bins are full (and/or on a regular schedule) a service comes in, empties them and takes them away to be shredded.

I would trust any company that does this for commercial customers for whom confidentiality is highest priority. They would be in very, very hot water if their practices were ever shown to have compromised anyone's identity or financial info. Not worth it to them to not adhere to the industry standards.

[software]

The problem I have now are prescription bottles.   When I use a permanent marker to mark out the label, if I turn the bottle at a certain angle, I can see everything.   I can't remove the labels, they are double "stuck"--- the actual label is sticky and it's covered with a clear tape.    I've tried everything I know.   Most of the bottles won't fit in the slim opening of the shred bin.

My next recourse is to return them to the pharmacy for disposal, hoping they will treat it confidentially, like any patient record.

[Moonchilde]

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@software wrote:

The problem I have now are prescription bottles.   When I use a permanent marker to mark out the label, if I turn the bottle at a certain angle, I can see everything.   I can't remove the labels, they are double "stuck"--- the actual label is sticky and it's covered with a clear tape.    I've tried everything I know.   Most of the bottles won't fit in the slim opening of the shred bin.

My next recourse is to return them to the pharmacy for disposal, hoping they will treat it confidentially, like any patient record.

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Interesting. I've never even thought about empty Rx bottles. I just toss mine. I don't get any highly desirable meds ;-) 

[ALRATIBA]

I have my own shredder.  No worries.  It's an automatic feed so I can just insert the paper or credit card or .... it cuts up very fine.  I got it at Staples.

One of my friends uses a service provided by her bank.  They have a shredder available that their customers can use. 

[CelticCrafter]

Our township does it twice a year for free to residents.

You give them the papers and watch it being shredded.