Think Before You Toss: How Trash Can Lead to Identity Theft
Did you know that once your trash hits the curb, it’s no longer private? According to a landmark 1988 Supreme Court ruling, anything placed in a trash bin and left at the curb becomes public property. That means identity thieves, dumpster divers, and even your neighbors can legally go through your garbage — and potentially find everything they need to steal your identity.
At MicroShred, we want to help you protect your sensitive information before it ever becomes trash.
Your Trash Could Be an Identity Thief’s Treasure
Identity theft is a growing threat that affects millions of Americans every year. And it doesn’t take much — something as simple as a name, address, birthdate, Social Security number, or even a phone number can be enough for a criminal to open accounts, commit fraud, or damage your credit.
Just think about what goes into your trash on any given week:
Old bills and bank statements
Pre-approved credit card offers
Prescription labels
Insurance paperwork
Shipping labels with your name and address
All of these items can be used to commit identity fraud — and once they’re in your garbage, they’re fair game.
The Best Defense: Shred Everything with Personal Information
The most effective way to protect yourself is to destroy all documents with personally identifiable information (PII) before throwing them away. That includes junk mail, utility bills, medical records, expired insurance cards, receipts, and more.
Here’s how to stay protected:
🚛 Hire a professional mobile shredding company like MicroShred for secure, on-site destruction
♻️ Choose a provider that also recycles shredded paper to stay environmentally responsible
Even if you think a piece of paper seems harmless, like an old envelope or promotional flyer, it’s safer to shred it than risk it.
Why Choose a Professional Shredding Service?
If you’re dealing with large volumes of paper or simply want peace of mind, a professional shredding service is the safest and most convenient solution.
At MicroShred, we make secure document destruction easy:
We come to your location with our mobile shredding trucks
You can watch your documents being shredded on-site
We provide a Certificate of Destruction for your records
All shredded material is recycled responsibly
Our shredding services are ideal for residents, small businesses, corporations, medical offices, and legal firms — anyone looking to reduce the risk of a data breach or identity theft.
Don’t Let Your Trash Be the Weak Link
With identity theft on the rise, taking proactive steps to protect your personal information has never been more important. Whether you’re an individual or a business, properly disposing of documents is essential.
💡 Pro tip: Even junk mail should be shredded — especially pre-approved credit card offers, which are a goldmine for scammers.
Protect Yourself with MicroShred
📞 Call MicroShred at (305) 999-9254 or 📧 [email protected] to schedule secure, professional document destruction.
Whether it’s a one-time purge or ongoing shredding service, MicroShred gives you the protection and peace of mind you need to keep identity thieves out of your business — and your trash.