Resources & FAQ
Compliance guides, retention schedules, and answers.
Plain-English disposal guidance for HIPAA, FACTA, and GLBA, plus the questions our front desk hears most often.
Compliance Guides
Disposal guidance for the three frameworks our customers ask about most.
Free PDF downloads. Send them to your compliance officer, or read them yourself before your next records purge.
HIPAA
Healthcare disposal guide
What protected health information needs to be destroyed, how to document the process, and how to maintain a Security Rule-aligned audit trail.
Download the HIPAA guideTODO: PDF asset
FACTA
Consumer report disposal guide
FTC Disposal Rule requirements, what counts as a consumer report, and reasonable measures for businesses of every size.
Download the FACTA guideTODO: PDF asset
GLBA
Financial institution disposal
How the Safeguards Rule applies to non-public personal information at end-of-life, including hardware and electronic media.
Download the GLBA guideTODO: PDF asset
Retention Schedule
How long to keep what before you bring it to us.
A starting point, not legal advice. Confirm with your accountant or attorney for your specific situation.
| Category | Keep | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Federal tax returns and supporting documentsIRS Topic 305 | 7 years | |
| California tax returnsCalifornia FTB | 4 years | |
| Bank statements and cancelled checksIRS / GLBA | 7 years | |
| Investment records and trade confirmationsSEC / FINRA | 7 years | |
| Pay stubs and W-2 formsIRS | Up to 7 years | |
| Medical records (HIPAA)HIPAA Privacy Rule | 6 years minimum | |
| Insurance policies (active)State law | Life of policy + 7 years | |
| Real estate recordsIRS / state law | 7 years past sale | |
| Receipts (non-tax)Personal preference | 1 to 3 years | |
| Credit card statementsFCBA / IRS | 60 days unless tax-related |
Frequently Asked
Questions our front desk hears every week.
If something below doesn’t cover you, call (310) 212-5266 or send a message from the contact page.
Do I need to remove staples and paperclips before bringing documents in?
No. Our industrial cross-cut shredder handles staples, paperclips, and small binder clips without issue. Three-ring binders and large metal hardware should be removed; we sell the binder destruction service separately at $1 each.
What's the difference between witness shredding and drop-off?
Witness shredding is by appointment. You stand at the viewing window and watch your documents cross-cut shredded in real time. It costs $0.50 per pound (with a $25 minimum). Drop-off is walk-in during business hours: you hand us your boxes, we weigh them and shred them, you go. It costs $0.40 per pound ($20 minimum). Both produce the same destruction quality; the only difference is whether you're present.
How long should I keep tax documents before shredding?
Federal returns and supporting documents: 7 years. California state returns: 4 years. If you've claimed a loss from worthless securities, the federal retention is 7 years from the date of the original return. When in doubt, keep tax-related items for 7 years. See the document retention schedule above for more guidance.
What's a Certificate of Destruction and when do I get one?
A Certificate of Destruction is a sequentially numbered, NAID-aligned record showing exactly what was destroyed, when, and by whom. It includes weights, signatures, and a HIPAA / FACTA / GLBA / SB1386 compliance footer. Witness appointments include a certificate by default. Drop-off customers can request one on the spot, or have one emailed to them after the fact.
Do you offer pickup service?
Recurring locked-bin pickup is available for commercial accounts. One-off residential pickup is not currently offered, but we're a short drive from anywhere in the South Bay. Call (310) 212-5266 if you have an unusual situation we should know about.
How fast can I get an appointment?
Most witness appointments can be booked within 24 to 48 hours. Same-day witness slots open up depending on volume; call us to check availability. Drop-off is always walk-in during business hours, no booking needed.
Do you accept payment by cash or check?
Yes. We accept cash, check, and all major cards at the counter. The future online booking system will use Stripe; for now, in-person payment is the primary path.
What can't you destroy?
We do not accept household trash, food waste, hazardous chemicals (paint, solvents, motor oil), live ammunition, biological waste, or radioactive material. Lithium-ion batteries are accepted but must be drained where possible. If you're unsure, call us before driving out.
Do you serve customers outside Torrance?
Yes. We regularly serve Lomita, Carson, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Hawthorne, and Gardena. South Bay residents and businesses are our core community, but anyone in the LA basin is welcome.
Are you NAID-certified?
We are NAID-aligned, meaning our destruction processes, certificates, and audit trails follow the standards set by the National Association for Information Destruction. Formal NAID AAA certification is on our roadmap and will be announced once complete.
Stay in the Loop
Disposal guidance and free shred-day notices.
Roughly one email per quarter, unsubscribe any time. We’ll send retention reminders, compliance updates, and a heads-up before community shred days.