| Document destruction has become mandatory by | | | | different stages: |
| law, in order to prevent the misuse of vital | | | | 1. First, the discarded paper is converted into |
| information by unscrupulous individuals. There are | | | | 're-suspension' or pulp slurry in clean water, to |
| a number of Federal and State Enactments such | | | | separate the component fibers. |
| as the FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit | | | | 2. The slurry is then treated chemically to remove |
| Transactions Act) and HIPPA (American Health | | | | non-fibrous contaminants and is also given a |
| Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). They | | | | detergent washing. |
| mandate the destruction of documents in a | | | | 3. In the case of white paper, there is a bleach |
| proper manner to prevent identity theft. | | | | treatment involved. |
| Documents falling under this category include:o | | | | 4. The fresh recycled paper is made with a |
| Blank Checkso Tax Recordso Payroll Recordso | | | | mixture of the pulp and some amount of virgin |
| Medical Recordso Personnel Recordso Bank | | | | fiber. |
| Statementso Financial Statementso Legal | | | | 5. In the process, some amount of unusable |
| Documentso Mailing Listso Office | | | | material referred to as 'sludge' is left behind. This |
| Correspondenceo Photocopieso Invoices | | | | is mainly weak fiber and old ink and is either used |
| The list is unending. The best way to destroy | | | | by farmers as fertilizer, buried in a landfill or |
| documents is by shredding them. When | | | | burned in paper mill furnaces to generate energy. |
| confidential papers are simply thrown into the | | | | The pulp mixture that is leftover is then diluted |
| trashcan, visitors, maintenance staff and other | | | | with more fresh water. This process creates |
| employees can easily access them. This is a | | | | what is often referred to as a slurry, and then is |
| grave security risk. | | | | loaded into a paper machine. Inside the machine |
| In small businesses or homes where the | | | | the slurry is filtered and compressed to remove |
| wastepaper output is limited, this can be taken | | | | all of the water. Now the material is ready to be |
| care of by installing shredding machines for | | | | sent through steam heated drums that ultimately |
| in-house shredding. But, in the case of big | | | | form paper sheets. |
| businesses and commercial establishments, | | | | For an effective recycling program, employees of |
| in-house shredding is a practical impossibility. This is | | | | any company consuming large amounts of paper |
| due to the large quantity of paper to be | | | | should first be educated about the available waste |
| shredded. In such businesses, the services of | | | | paper recycling methods. Then, through interactive |
| professional shredding service providers are very | | | | sessions, they need to be informed about the |
| useful. Once contracted, these professional | | | | benefits of recycling and the ways in which they |
| companies come at a prescheduled time in special | | | | can positively contribute to the program. This can |
| trucks to conduct the shredding onsite. In the | | | | be as simple as monitoring the usage of paper |
| case of offsite shredding, they carry it to the | | | | and segregating white paper from colored paper. |
| company warehouse and documents are | | | | They can be stored in separately labeled |
| destroyed there. In both cases, the shredded | | | | trashcans. |
| material is later sent for recycling. | | | | Every time waste paper is recycled, there is |
| Recycling includes pulping the shredded material, | | | | conservation of valuable energy, resource |
| which is then used to make recycled paper | | | | conservation and reduction in waste disposal |
| products. The recycling process is comprised of | | | | costs. |