While your company documents may not be a matter of national security, many firms use paper shredders to ensure that sensitive documents don't fall into the hands of their competitors.

Although dumpster diving may seem the stuff of a bad spy novel, what's noteworthy is that the courts have ruled that items found in the trash are in the public domain. This means that picking through trash, however unsavory, is legal.

This guide is designed to give you the facts you need to choose and evaluate a paper shredder for your business. The various sections are listed in the box above. You can choose to read this guide from beginning to end, or jump directly to a section of interest.