Dear LPG,

I have noticed a couple of messages on your pages that offer ways to get rid of sensitive paperwork.  After the many stories of identity fraud that we have all come to hear this is one of the aspects of modern life that gets really messy. 

I think that most people think of old driver’s licenses, old bus passes and outdated bank cards as the sort of documents that might get you into trouble but anything that has your name, address and one other bit of information about you on it could become the shred of evidence that makes all the difference.  

It is not that any of us have anything to hide but any piece of paper which has more than one part of information about you printed on it needs to be regarded as dangerous if it gets into the wrong hands.   All those pieces of junk mail with your name and address and other little added details really do need to be dealt with.

JS’s finding is one way of doing it (►►►), I have also seen  information on the best way to incinerate it (►►►) or even soak the print out of the paper (►►►) but a friend suggested yet another way which will guarantee no messy residue to get rid of provided your shredder still works.  

As we get older, more and more of these bits of junk have a habit of arriving at our front door, and while lots of it is just rubbish you would be surprised what information can be drawn from it.

If you can shred up your paper and cut up those old bits of plastic ID, she offers this recipe for success.  She tells me that giving the document-shreds or cuttings a good mix and then separating them into a minimum of three piles which you place in a minimum of three separate dust bins could be another way forward.  

I have now taken this on board and make my recycling bin available for a few of my friend’s paper shreds while, when visiting I put a few of mine in their bins.  My friend places a lot of emphasis on the importance of not using the bin next door and suggests that each bin is at least a street or two away from the others.   A bit of the story in the public bin by the bus stop or in the shopping precinct is not a bad idea either.  

KY Forest Hill.