Frequently Asked Questions

General

How many Shred Days are there a year?

Austin ARMA works to have two shred days a year. One in the spring and one in the fall. Please always check here for dates of current and upcoming shred days.

When are Shred Days normally held?

The location of the Shred Day does move around the city. Please check here for confirmation of where the current and next Shred Day will be.

Who are the volunteers?

The volunteers are members of the Austin ARMA chapter and members from the sponsoring local vendors that are donating their day to this free community service event to help you securely shred your confidential information. Please be aware of them and keep their safety in mind while driving your vehicle.

What is ARMA?

ARMA International is a not-for-profit international professional association that specializes in managing and governing information as a strategic asset. The local Austin ARMA chapter is the group that organizes the free shred event.

Can I bring my business records to be shredded?

No. This event is for private households to securely destroy their confidential information.

How long should I maintain my personal records?

Here we provide a personal records retention schedule you can refer to in order to determine if your records can or should be destroyed.

Is there a box limit that I can bring to Shred Day?

No more than 10 boxes per vehicle will be accepted.

Logistics



What are the event hours?

The Shred Day begins at 8:00 am and will end promptly at 1:30pm on the date scheduled.

Will the event occur even if there's inclement weather?

No. It is up to the discretion of Austin ARMA depending on the severity of the weather and the safety conditions for the volunteers and attendees.

How can I check if weather has cancelled the event?

You can either email us at austinarmachapter@gmail.com or you can call [512] 937-3347.

Will I have to unload my car?

No, Shred Day volunteers will gladly unload your car; however, if you bring a pet along with you, the volunteers will NOT be able to reach into the vehicle.

Am I guaranteed to have my confidential records shred as long as I arrive by 1:30 pm?

We make every attempt to ensure anyone who arrives before 1:30 pm can drop off their records, but the event may close earlier than that time if all trucks become full before 1:30 pm. Absolutely no arrivals after 1:30 pm will be accepted. We appreciate your attention to this.

Express Lane?



What is the Express Lane?



The Express lane is a faster alternative where citizens of Austin and the surrounding communities can drop off their personal confidential records to be placed in bins on a truck that will be driven back to the secured and bonded shred vendors' facilities to be shred within 72 hours.

The only difference between the Express Lane and the OnSite Shredding is that the Express Lane items are not shred onsite same day.

Both options are completely secure to protect your documents, The choice is up to the attendee the day they arrive. People will direct you to which lane you should be in.



(Note: This option is not applicable for a FALL Shred Day.)

Is it just as secure to use the Express Lane?

Yes. All of our shred vendors are insured and bonded professionals that provide these services to hospitals, banks and the government offices around our community. The items dropped off will be taken and shred at their facilities within 72 hours.

Record preparation

How should the paper be prepared?

Paper should be in cardboard boxes that do not exceed 24" x 24" x 36" and should be able to be easily lifted. The boxes should have fitting lids or securely closed box flaps. This prevents the paper from accidentally being blown out and exposing your personal information to identity theft.

Do I need to remove staples from my documents?

If there are a lot, yes. A small number of standard household staples are ok. Large amounts, industrial staples, paper clips and binder clips should be removed.

Do I need to remove my mail from their envelopes?

No, you can drop your mail into the box as is. No need to remove. It will all be shred and recycled.

Is the paper and cardboard taken recycled?

Yes. All paper and cardboard is recycled.

Can I use any box?

You can use any cardboard box with a fitting lid that is not larger than 24” x 24” x 36”. We have to ensure the volunteers are able to pick the boxes up. We also cannot accept flimsy boxes that may fall apart if picked up.

Can I keep my boxes?

Yes, just inform the volunteers that you wish to keep your boxes and they will be returned to you after they are emptied.

What types of items are accepted at Shred Day?

Dry paper of any color is the only accepted material. All paper should be in cardboard boxes with lids or flaps that close. This will ensure no documents will get dropped or carried off by the wind, keeping your information protected. DO NOT TAPE THE BOX CLOSED. We cannot accept paper in plastic bags or leaf bags.

What types of items are NOT accepted at Shred Day?

Batteries, plastics, wet paper, clothes, electronics, metal, three ring binders, wood, binder clips, rubber bands or anything else that is not dry paper.

What if I want my information to be shred in my presence?

You have the option. You will be asked to pull off to the side and park. There you can wait until the bin is completely full and will be able to watch your items (along with other attendees items) be shred via a monitor on the outside of the truck.