Disposal of Records by the Records Center

Unless otherwise arranged, records are destroyed by the Records Center in accordance with approved records retention schedules. At least two weeks before the disposal date listed on your copy of the Records Transfer Sheet, the Records Center will send you a "Disposal Notification." You must then notify the supervisor of the State Records Center of your disposal decision. The options are:

• Disposal by the Records Center.
   
• Transfer Back to the Agency
  Occasionally an agency will still have a need for a record (e.g., audit, pending litigation). The records will then be returned to the agency.
   
• Extensions
  This occurs only when a new records retention schedule is approved which extends the retention period.

You may indicate your disposal decision through correspondence to the supervisor of the Records Center.

Normally the Records Center disposes of paper through a contractual arrangement with a waste paper recycling firm. The agreement generally calls for mixed files to be bailed up, sent to a mill or recycling plant, and completely destroyed. All x-ray film is returned to the agency.

Back to Guidelines for Use of the State Records Center Introduction page