Shredding documents is a highly effective way to destroy the information contained within them. Professional document shredding is regulated by multiple federal and state laws. This destruction method is trusted by businesses and residences all over the world to securely get rid of information. Shred Nations has been matching customers with our network of shredding partners across the US and Canada for over two decades. Our providers are vetted and regarded highly within their communities.
Main Types of Document Shredding
There are three main types of shredding executed by at home and professional shredders. Each has differing benefits and uses. When using a professional shredding service, files are either taken off site and shredded in a secure facility or they are shredded before your eyes in a secure, contained mobile destruction truck. Shredding types are rated from P1 (least secure) to P7 (most secure) to indicate the size of paper shreds they produce.
- Strip-cut shredding: This is the most basic type of document destruction. Paper is fed into a machine and cut into long strips using a single straight blade. This type of shredding is considered “low security” (P-1 or P-2 level) because the strips can be reassembled. This method is best used for less sensitive information and is not generally adopted by professional shredding companies.
- Cross-cut shredding: Cross cut shredders use two cutting blades to cut paper vertically as well as horizontally. This creates smaller cross-cut particles that are like confetti. Cross-cut shredders provide better security (P-3 or P-4 level) because these small pieces of shredded paper are extremely difficult to put back together.
- Micro-cut shredding: Micro-cut shredders use multiple cutting blades to shred paper into tiny pieces. This method of document destruction provides the highest level of security (P-5, P-6 or P-7) as the shredded output is essentially unrecoverable.
After professional shredding, the pieces of shredded paper are either securely recycled, pulped, composted, or mixed with other materials for disposal. This secure shredding and disposal process makes shredding with a certified company more secure than destroying documents with an at-home or office shredder.
At Home vs Professional Shredding
Shredding at the home or office can be extremely convenient. However, this method is not as safe as using a professional service. When shredding in-house, there is a risk of information being viewed by whomever is feeding files into the machine. This leaves you vulnerable to information leaks and breaches of privacy. Locating documents for shredding, sorting, feeding files into a shredder, and disposing of shreds securely can take large amounts of personal or employee time. However, having a shredder in the home or office can be convenient for small amounts of low-security shredding that is accomplished with some frequency.
Professional services can save time and guarantee your privacy. A service is able to come to you and either shred on-site or transport the files to a facility where they are carefully monitored and destroyed alongside tens of thousands of pounds of other paper materials. The scraps are then securely disposed of to ensure the privacy of your information. After destruction, you can even receive a certificate of destruction to prove shredding and the compliant nature of the process.
Risks of Not Shredding
Not shredding personal or company information can leave you vulnerable to negative outcomes. Some unfortunate results of not properly shredding this information are data breaches, identity theft, loss of customer and community trust, and legal penalties. All files that contain identifying information need to be properly disposed of. Outdoor trash and recycling bins are not secure spaces and can lead to information theft. Companies are responsible for keeping the information of their customers and employees secure. Files need to be both properly stored and destroyed when they are no longer needed.
Effective Destruction Services with Shred Nations
Shred Nations is highly experienced in secure document destruction. Our partners offer mobile, off site, drop off, and mail back services. They are fully compliant and get the job done securely. Unsure what service is right for your needs? Our call center is available 7-days a week to answer your questions and get you free, customized quotes. To get started, contact Shred Nations at (800) 747-3365 or fill out the form.
