Your Questions about Paper Shredding, Answered

1. Why should I shred my paper? I’ve got nothing to hide.

• First of all, shredding your documents isn’t just for the purpose of hiding your latest love letter or list of resolutions that you gave up on by January 3. Shredding all documents ensures that any potentially private information is eliminated so it can’t be found by thieves.
• Second, you might be surprised at what thieves can retrieve from even the “harmless” information you are throwing in the garbage or recycle bin. Bills, financial statements, marketing plans, employee files, shipping labels, travel documents including boarding passes, and any document that has any amount of personally identifiable information (PII) on them can provide a crook with information they can use.
• Third, some of the information you might be discarding could be used to steal from you, your employees, or your customers and should be shredded thoroughly. This is a violation of data privacy laws, and non-compliance could make you and your business liable for legal charges, fines, and a damaged reputation.

2. So, can I just shred it myself?

• Some people choose to tear or cut up their own documents. Doing this leaves your documents easy to reconstruct or leaves readable information on the pieces.
• Some individuals and businesses purchase shredding machines to shred their own documents. The challenge of this is that many smaller machines don’t shred documents small enough to meet compliance requirements by law.
• Your shredder can only shred a limited number of documents at a time and the process is usually very tedious and time consuming, requiring your staff to spend valuable time feeding in documents and waiting for them to shred.
• You and your staff will be frustrated by having to remove staples, paperclips, comb bindings as well as dealing with jams and breakdowns and having to regularly replace the machines.
• Overused machines, such as those in busy offices, become overheated and can pose a fire risk.
• Injuries commonly caused by shredding machines are gruesome, debilitating, and create a liability for your company.
• In the long run, professional shredding is a more affordable, safe, and secure choice.

3. Can I just let my discarded documents accumulate until I have enough for a shredding company?

• The problem with accumulating sensitive documents is that every minute they sit awaiting shredding increases the risk of the information being lost or stolen, leaving you and your company vulnerable to a data breach with serious legal and financial consequences.
• Even if you feel you can keep your discarded documents secure until shredding, the law requires businesses to retain information for a specific amount of time and to securely destroy it at the end of its retention period.
• The great thing about locally-owned shredding companies is that no quantity of documents is too small to be shredded. Drop-off shredding and Seal N’ Shred Bags offer options for small businesses, people working at home, and residents with discarded paperwork.
• With professional shredding, you choose how often you shred. Choose from one-time purge shredding or regularly-scheduled shredding.
• The most secure procedure is to discard your documents into a locked shred collection container provided by your shredding company. Work with them to determine retention dates and the type and frequency of shredding that works best for you.

4. If I don’t shred my own documents, how will I know they have been shredded properly?

• A reputable, NAID AAA Certified shredding company will protect your documents from the moment they are placed into a secure shredding container to the moment the shredded paper is transferred to a recycling depot to be made into new paper products.
• A Certificate of Destruction will be provided to offer proof of compliance.

5. What about recycling?

• Choose a company that will send 100% of the shredded material to a recycling depot is an environmentally friendly decision. It is very unlikely that the recycling company that collects your recycled paper would have the ability to recycle personally shredded material.
• Look for a company that gives back by planting new trees in addition to recycling their shredded paper.

6. Where do I find a reputable shredding company?

ShredPro Secure provides NAID AAA Certified, on-site mobile shredding to businesses and residents of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Our shredding service meets all state and federal compliance laws, provides you with a Certificate of Destruction for your records. We recycle all of our shredded paper, and proudly partner with the One Tree Planted Initiative to plant new trees throughout Appalachia. We can answer any of your shredding questions. Simply call us at 865-986-5444 or complete the form on this page. Our friendly experts are standing by!