Anonymous
Post 09/28/2025 16:33     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Anonymous wrote:A shredder is cheap.


This. Gotta be less than 40 bucks for one. Could have already shredded all of it while watching TV instead of making this thread.

Many threads are bots or scams of some sort, to condition people.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2025 12:39     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Anonymous wrote:Is the relative alive? If dead, I'd just wait until the bank accounts are closed and toss in regular recycling.


Relative is still alive.

Tons of old bank statements and SS info. And current bank statements for accounts that remain active.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2025 12:35     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
A shredder is cheap.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2025 08:10     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Anonymous wrote:If they took the box from you and it went in the shredder that would great but they don't. instead they have out down the box and say they will shred it later.


You might want to check that paranoia.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2025 00:14     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Buy a shredder and shred them
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2025 00:09     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Anonymous wrote:Hot soapy water and soak for 24-48 hours it will be pulp. Then throw out in regular trash.


Results of this are uneven. Much of the text stays legible.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 21:05     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
If they took the box from you and it went in the shredder that would great but they don't. instead they have out down the box and say they will shred it later.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 20:02     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Arlington county holds a shredding event once a month but there is a limit to how much you can bring. I don’t know of any place that lets you use their commercial shredders. Having someone else shred your docs is marginally safer than dumping them in the trash.

If you must destroy these docs, buy a shredder and do it yourself half a box per day. Yes, it will take you a long time to do this but at least you’ll be confident that’s it’s been done properly.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 19:54     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
We just took everything to UPS and paid the small fee.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 16:27     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Spread on lawn and mow.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 13:21     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Hot soapy water and soak for 24-48 hours it will be pulp. Then throw out in regular trash.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 12:18     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Professional shredder places existing near D.C. and basically nowhere else in the country, except near a few large city government offices.

What a coincidence.

Also, those places run them through scanners now and data mine what's being shredded before it's destroyed.

Cannot believe how few people are aware of that. It's a goldmine of data.


Be careful with shredding companies. I took boxes full of sensitive paperwork from two separate estates to a free shredding event. The folks took the bags without comments but didn't immediately shred them. They said they would shred them "later" when I asked why they weren't shredding them. I said shred them now or I'm leaving with the boxes. I was indignant, as these bags were full of banking and other sensitive information. I was the only person there in that moment.


I have never seen a free shredding event in this area that wasn't packed before, during, and after. *Everyone* says they need to see their documents shredded.


Well, I guess you weren't at the one I went to, lol.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 12:15     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Anonymous wrote:Is the relative alive? If dead, I'd just wait until the bank accounts are closed and toss in regular recycling.

Don't put in recycling.
Take to Staples or FedEx store where you put stuff in an Iron Mountain bin.
I did that with our stuff. My company uses Iron Mountain, good enough for me.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 12:12     Subject: How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
Is the relative alive? If dead, I'd just wait until the bank accounts are closed and toss in regular recycling.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2025 12:10     Subject: Re:How would you dispose of boxes of items that should be shredded?
There’s a place in Rockville called Patriot Shredding which I learned about in a previous thread where they will shred on site. I think it’s like $10 a bag.