Rowan Vocational Opportunities is offering low-cost, flexible document shredding, destruction and disposal for area businesses and individuals.

During tax season, many businesses and individuals find themselves buried under a mountain of old bank statements, invoices and utility bills, as well as personal and confidential records, said Rowan Vocational officials.

“We all understand the devastating effects of confidential and sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals, business competitors and telemarketers. Throwing this information in the trash only provides an invitation for those who commit fraud and identity theft to continue their criminal enterprises,” said Glenn McDonald, Rowan Vocational Opportunities sales and marketing director.

McDonald said at some point, every business, individual and family has some information that requires secure destruction, including customer lists, credit card and sales receipts, tax records, personnel and payroll information.

Recently enacted laws mandating document destruction and protection of certain types of information also help ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Financial Responsibility Act, he said.

In addition to the actual shredding, Rowan Vocational Opportunities is offering several services to make the experience more convenient and efficient that include:

• Facility-based walk in where no appointments or phone calls are necessary.

• Materials can be securely picked up from a business, home or storage facility and transported for destruction. Documents are handled with integrity and professionalism.

• A locked secure container can be left at your site and picked up on a weekly or monthly basis as needed.

• Identity theft and consumer fraud can be eliminated as documents are shredded into tiny, illegible bits to ensure security.

Rowan Vocational Opportunities is a Rowan County United Way agency that provides individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities the opportunity to receive vocational and life skills training in an effort to maintain gainful employment.

Ted Oglesby, who runs the shredding department at Rowan Vocational, said the organization sees this as a community service, as well as a way to provide a significant amount of work for many of its clients who might not be able to function in a competitive work environment given this tight economy.

Shredding will be offered at a discounted rate to individuals 65 years and older who bring their documents by Rowan Vocational Opportunities at 2728 Old Concord Road.

For additional information about shredding services, contact Oglesby at 704-633-6223.