What are my options for shredders?

Everyone is familiar with paper shredders due to the rise in identity theft, but did you know there are several different types available? From personal-sized machines to ones that can destroy cardboard, there are shredders for a whole variety of needs. Here’s a short look at some of the ones you can choose from…

1. Cross- and strip-cut varieties. When it comes right down to it, there are really only two types of shredders: cross-cut and strip-cut. These designations refer to how your documents will be shred. Either they’ll look like little bits of paper or they’ll end up as a bunch of spaghetti-like strips. If you want to keep your information under wraps, go with a cross-cut device as they tend to offer more security.
2. Personal and deskside. These types of machines are ideal for use by one or two people either in the home or workplace. Usually, these devices are small enough to fit under desks so they can provide an unobtrusive yet convenient means of document disposal. If you choose to go with this type of machine, make sure it has good safety features, especially if you share your home or workplace with critters of the two- and/or four-legged variety.
3. Multimedia. There are paper shredders available that have the ability to process non-paper items. These items can include DV tapes, floppy disks, credit/debit cards, CD’s/DVD’s, and so on. A multimedia shredder is great to have around if you store a lot of your files on electronic media, which is becoming the rule rather than the exception today. There are even some shredders that can destroy medication bottles, which are ideal for pharmacies, doctors’ office, and hospitals.
4. Micro-cut and high-security. If security is extremely important, a micro-cut or high-security shredder is the way to go. These machines can turn your document into the tiniest particles imaginable so they can never be assembled. Some of these devices have Level 5 and 6 security ratings (the highest possible) so you’ll be able to comply with federal privacy laws such as the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), if you’re required to do so. Some of these machines even have approval from governmental agencies so they can be used to dispose of top secret documents.
5. Cardboard. Cardboard is difficult to store and it can be even tougher to get rid of it easily. If you find yourself in this predicament, a cardboard shredder is ideal. These machines will shred your unwanted cardboard so you can either recycle it or use it as packing materials. This can help you save both space and money. (It will also help your goods arrive at their destinations intact.)