| Shredders
Introduction
While your company documents may not be a matter of national security,
many firms use paper shredders to ensure that sensitive documents
don't fall into the hands of their competitors.
Although
dumpster diving may seem the stuff of a bad spy novel, what's noteworthy
is that the courts have ruled that items found in the trash are
in the public domain. This means that picking through trash, however
unsavory, is legal.
This
guide is designed to give you the facts you need to choose and evaluate
a paper shredder for your business. The various sections are listed
in the box above. You can choose to read this guide from beginning
to end, or jump directly to a section of interest.
How
Shredders Work
Paper shredders consist of a pair of rotating cutting blades, a
paper comber, and a motor that drives this assembly. Paper is fed
between the two intermeshing blades and is split into many small
pieces by the force of the blades.
The
produced shreds are held in one of a variety of containers. Low-end
shredders are simply draped over the edge of or straddle an office
wastebasket. Slightly more expensive ones come equipped with their
own wastebasket. Most office grade shredders typically come with
an enclosed cabinet with wheels to make it easier to roll about
the office. Finally, there are some shredders that come with a stand
that can hold a plastic bag.
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