Free cleanup event includes secure document shredding in Meeker on April 10
MEEKER | The word “paperwork” brings to mind a lot of things — balancing the checkbook, filling out tax forms, job or school applications, and the never-ending task of sorting receipts, medical bills and financial records. From the moment you reach adulthood, paper starts piling up, and many people aren’t sure what they have to keep, what they should keep, and what they can safely throw away.
Here’s a good opportunity to tackle it.
On Friday, April 10 at Town Park in Meeker and Friday, April 17 at Elks Park in Rangely, GO Services (formerly Overton Recycling), in conjunction with the Rio Blanco County Landfill, are hosting free community clean-up days. They’ll accept household trash and large items, electronics and metal, and up to four tires per household. Residents will need to transport items to the sites, but can avoid landfill and trash fees while clearing out clutter.
The Town of Meeker is providing a bonus for Meeker residents only. Vital Records Control, a secure document shredding service from Grand Junction, will provide personal document shredding on April 10. It’s a simple way to protect yourself from identity theft while clearing out those overflowing file drawers.
So what should you bring to shred?
As a general rule, anything containing sensitive personal or financial information should be destroyed. That includes old bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, medical bills and outdated insurance paperwork. Pay stubs can usually be shredded once you’ve matched them to your W-2 and confirmed everything is accurate. Even junk mail with your name and address can be used by identity thieves.
What should you keep? The short answer: anything that proves who you are or documents major life events.
That includes birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports, marriage or divorce records, wills and powers of attorney. These should be stored securely, either in a safe or a locked file.
Some records fall in between. Tax records should generally be kept for at least three years, though many experts recommend up to seven years to cover more complex situations, while things like bank statements and utility bills can usually be shredded after a year if they are not needed for tax purposes or disputes. Home improvement records should be kept as long as you own the property.
If you’re not sure, err on the side of caution — but if it’s been sitting in a box for a decade and has your account number on it, it’s probably a good candidate for the shred pile.
You’ve got about two weeks to sort through those piles of paperwork and decide what could be securely shredded at the free clean-up event on April 10.