Where can I take my papers for shredding?

Where can I take my papers for shredding? This is a question on the minds of many data-conscious individuals who understand the importance of shredding confidential paperwork. But where can you take papers for shredding, and how can you keep the process safe?

Where to take your papers for shredding

There are many ways to shred your paperwork. Some people choose to use a small office shredder. These are typically very expensive to maintain, and you can only shred a few pieces of paper at a time. There are also the issues of no audit trail, and what happens to your shredded paper once you need to empty the shredder bin. If you’re just going to put paper strips in an unsecure outside bin, you run the risk of reassembly.

Other people choose to burn their paper. This is not good for the environment and stops that paperwork from being recycled. You also release carbon dioxide by burning paperwork. Not only that, but if you’re burning large volumes of paperwork, you could receive fines of up to £20,000 for creating an unauthorised fire.

The best way to shred your paperwork is by taking it somewhere it will be both shredded under strict controls and the fragments will be recycled. Alternatively, a shredding service provider can come to you. At a minimum, reputable shredding service providers should recycle 100% of the paper they shred. Some shredding companies, including ourselves, have many environmental commitments, so you can relax in the knowledge that your data is being handled securely with the environment in mind. If you use a shredding service supplier, you should use one that is fully accredited to ISO 9001 incorporating EN15713, ISO 14001 incorporating EN15713, and they should be members of the BSIA and UKSSA as a minimum. To ensure environmental friendliness, it’s also good to look for a shredding provider that has carbon neutral certification and strong eco policies.

Depot drop-off services

If you have a shredding depot local to you, they may let you drop off your confidential materials at their depot for shredding. This is often more cost-effective than having a service from your premises. There is also the huge benefit of being able to drop off your confidential paperwork on a day that suits you, rather than having to wait for a visit. If you’re shredding paperwork for a business, there’s the risk of not knowing what’s happening to your confidential paperwork while in transit if a member of staff is driving it to the depot. For businesses, we would always recommend a service from your site. At Shred Station, we only use security-vetted staff. We also have strict security measures in place to safeguard confidential materials during destruction.

Off-site shredding

Shredding service providers can provide something called an off-site shredding service. This is where a shredding company collects your confidential materials from your site. From there, the company will take your materials to a secure shredding depot for destruction. They will keep your materials safe in transit with secure vehicles, comprehensive CCTV, telematics tracking, and security-vetted drivers. Off-site shredding vehicles should also feature very minimal branding to ensure your materials are kept safe every step of the way. With off-site services, you’ll receive a Waste Transfer Note to show your materials have been collected. You’ll also receive a Certificate of Destruction.

On-site shredding

Shredding service providers can also provide an on-site shredding service. This is where a company will destroy your materials at your home or business for you to witness. With us, once shredded, the materials will be transported away to secure shredding facilities. Here the fragments will be baled and sent to paper mills for recycling. Again, with on-site services, a reputable company will keep your materials safe in transit with GPS, CCTV, and security-vetted staff. Your Waste Transfer Note and Certificate of Destruction should be supplied immediately.

We hope this information is useful for anyone unsure of where to take their papers for shredding.

If there’s anything you need help with, if you need some advice about your shredding requirements, or if you want to know if we have a depot close to you, please get in touch today.

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