To help consumers keep their personal info safe, SCDCA hosts free shred events. These events are typically held in March, October and December. Once upcoming events are confirmed, details will be posted on this page. Below you will find information that may be helpful when deciding if you should shred a document or keep it securely in storage.

What to Shred

Shredding documents that contain personal, financial and medical information can help you prevent identity theft. The information below may help guide you as you decide what to keep, lock up or shred.

Shred

• ATM receipts
• Offers of credit or insurance
• Cleared checks (after 14 days)
• Credit reports
• Prescription information for medicines you no longer take
• Expired warranties
• Expired credit cards, driver’s licenses, and other forms of identification

Keep for a Year

• Bank statements
• Pay stubs
• Undisputed medical bills
• Credit card and utility bills
• Deposited checks

If you can access these documents electronically, consider shredding your paper copies.

Keep for at Least Three Years

• Income tax returns
• Tax-related documents, like canceled checks, receipts, W-2s, and 1099s
• Records related to selling a home

In some cases, the IRS recommends keeping tax returns and tax-related documents for longer than three years. If you can access these documents electronically, consider shredding your paper copies.

Keep While You Own

• The title to your vehicle
• The title or deed to your home
• Documents related to mortgage or vehicle loans
• Home improvement receipts
• Rental agreements and leases
• Sales receipts and warranty information for major appliances

Keep Forever

And lock up:

• Birth certificate or adoption papers
• Social Security cards
• Valid passports and citizenship or residency papers
• Marriage licenses and divorce decrees
• Military records
• Wills, living wills, powers of attorney, and retirement and pension plans
• Death certificates of family members
• Vital health records (especially those that pre-date electronic health records)