How to Dispose of Private Documents with or without a Shredder

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.

There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.

This article has been viewed 545,388 times.

Destroying paperwork that contains sensitive content, like bank statements, credit card statements, pay stubs, or receipts can make sure your personal information doesn't fall into the wrong hands. It can even protect you from identity theft. In this article, we’ll teach you all the best ways to destroy confidential documents, including shredding, burning, and pulping. Plus, we'll explain how to destroy digital documents, as well.