6-5.2 Disposal Methods

For disposal methods, do the following:

1. Records authorized for disposition may be disposed of using the following methods:
1. Transferring to the National Archives.
2. Donating to the Smithsonian Institution, local museums, or historical societies.
3. Selling as waste material.
4. Discarding.
5. Physically destroying.

For guidance on the appropriate disposal method, see eRIMS or contact the Records Office.

2. Hard-copy records with retention periods that have expired and that are not subject to a Legal Hold Notice may be sold as waste paper unless they contain information that cannot be disclosed to the general public, such as personal information. Hard-copy records containing personal information must be destroyed pursuant the applicable Privacy Act systems of records (see Appendix). Any contract for sale must prohibit the resale of the hard-copy records as records or documents. Film or plastic records may be sold under the same conditions and in the same manner. Hard-copy records that cannot be sold should be destroyed by shredding, pulping or burning.