Shred on Site

Choosing the right document shredding specialists may seem like a simple task. However, not all services are equal. Some use shredding techniques that are more secure than others, and you will need to choose between companies that take your shredding away and those that perform mobile shredding from a van outside your premises. Reputation, communication, and availability are also important factors that need to be taken into account before you can be sure that you have chosen the most appropriate company for your shredding needs.

Shredding Technique

The long strip shredder is the type that is most commonly found in home and office shredders. They essentially make a series of single cuts along the length of the paper, as each sheet is passed through. With diligence and sellotape, it is actually possible to reconstruct the documents once they have been shredded in this way.

Cross hatch shredding is considered much more secure, and better quality shredding. The paper is cut both horizontally and vertically, so that the paper comes out looking more like confetti and is impossible to put back together in any meaningful way. Your business should look for those document shredding specialists that utilise this type of cross hatch shredding.

Security

Most businesses shred because it offers data and document security. As such, the company that you use to shred documents for you should treat your security as importantly as you do. Not only does this mean that they use a secure cross hatch cut, but they should provide a secure all-round service. The van should be secure, drivers reliable, and the service trustworthy.

Mobile Services

Some companies will come and collect your waste paper, take it away, and shred it at a facility. Once the paper leaves your premises, you don’t really know whether it is secure and you won’t know once the shredding is finished. A mobile service, on the other hand, will shred the documents not only outside your building, but even while you watch.

Environmental Practices

Another benefit of shredding paper is that it can be recycled. Standard recycling bins will not cope with the type of load that most businesses have, and having large waste paper bins outside the office is far from secure. Using professional document shredding services, it is possible to securely shred paperwork while ensuring that all of your waste paper is taken away for recycling.

Reputation and Experience

When outsourcing any type of work, or paying for any B2B service, you will want to ensure that you deal with companies that have a good reputation and are experienced in the type of service that they offer. Ask for testimonials from the company you intend to use, and if you have the opportunity to speak to a customer then you can ask questions that are specific to how you will be using the shredding service.

Communication and Professionalism

Whether you require regular collections of your waste paper, or you require a one-off service, it is important that your document shredding specialists are communicative. You should also use a company that is professional. If the van turns up late, or fails to turn up at all, it can leave you with a mountain of paper and nothing to do with it.

Availability and Frequency

Different companies have different waste paper collection requirements. A small office that conducts most of its work on computers, and does not print paperwork, may only require very infrequent collections. A large organisation that utilises paper files, sends and receives invoices and documentation, and performs other paper-intensive tasks will require more frequent collections. Consider your own requirements and ensure that the service you choose can meet your needs.

Author: Mark Coombes, Follow me on Google+