Hey, that's a really smart and important question. Throwing sensitive stuff like bank statements, old IDs, or medical bills straight into a public bin is risky. Anyone could find them. Here’s what I do to make it as secure as possible:
First, never toss them intact. If you have access to a shredder, that's your best first step. Cross-cut shredders are better than strip shredders. If you can't shred, get creative. Tear the documents up by hand into the smallest pieces you can manage. Separate these pieces into two or three different trash bags if possible.
Another good trick is to make the information unreadable. Before tearing or shredding, take a marker and scribble over all the crucial info: account numbers, your name, address, and signature. For extra security, you can lightly dampen the papers with water or a bit of coffee. This makes the ink run and the paper clump together, especially if you ball it up with other wet trash like used coffee grounds or food scraps.
Timing matters too. If you can, dispose of the pieces right before the trash is scheduled to be collected. This minimizes the time they sit in the bin exposed.
Honestly, the *most* secure way is to not use a public bin at all. If the documents are extremely sensitive, hold onto them until you can use a trusted home shredder or take them to a community shredding event. But if you must use a public can, making the documents destroyed, unreadable, and messy is your best defense. It's a few extra minutes that can save you from a huge headache like identity theft. Stay safe