1. A system for managing documents, said system comprising: (a) a paper document having a unique code affixed thereto that uniquely identifies the document; (b) a database that stores the code and a date, if any, in which the document is scheduled to be destroyed; (c) a scanner that reads the code affixed to the document; (d) a buffer that holds the document; (e) a computer that checksthe database to determine whether or not the document should be destroyed, while the document is in the buffer enters, whereby if the database indicates the document should be destroyed, the document is transferred from the buffer to a shredder for destruction and if the database indicates that the document should not be destroyed, the document is transferred from the buffer to a tray.
1. A system for managing documents, said system comprising: (a) a paper document having a unique code affixed thereto that uniquely identifies the document; (b) a database that stores the code and a date, if any, in which the document is scheduled to be destroyed; (c) a scanner that reads the code affixed to the document; (d) a buffer that holds the document; (e) a computer that checksthe database to determine whether or not the document should be destroyed, while the document is in the buffer enters, whereby if the database indicates the document should be destroyed, the document is transferred from the buffer to a shredder for destruction and if the database indicates that the document should not be destroyed, the document is transferred from the buffer to a tray. 9. The system claimed in claim 1 , wherein the database indicates the occurrence of an event that will trigger the shredding of the document.