Paper is one of the essential materials every business. The average employee in the US uses up to 45 pieces of paper daily, and around two-thirds of that amount goes straight to the trash can. We use paper for many office matters, whether it’s complicated paperwork such as signing approvals and sending financial statements, or a much simpler task like printing events flyers and sticking a memo onto the refrigerator door.Unless an office is fully digitized, it is almost impossible to go a day without seeing a sheet of paper lying around.
With paper shredding, you can put your bulk paper waste to good use without compromising data. Confidential shredding servicesturn paper waste into recyclable materials in the safest and most secure manner possible.
What is Paper Shredding?
Paper shredding involves turning on the paper shredding machine and sliding paper into the shredder feed’s opening. Each shredder is unique in its own way: manual shredders need assistance with the paper feeding while automatic ones will do most of the work. Just be sure to know the product before using it.
Most shredders are categorized according to three types of cuts:
- Cross Cut – These kinds of shredders shred the paper by cutting diagonally in opposite directions.
- Micro Cut – Micro-cut shredders are the most secure shredders as they tear the paper into very fine pieces using micro-blades.
- Strip Cut -The strip cut shredder cuts the paper into several long strips where the thickest strip is of 3/8 inch, thinnest is 1/16 inch, and the mid-level strip is about ¾ inch. Choose the thickness that suits your needs best.
The machine then slices the paper into thin strips and releases the waste for you to collect. Once you’re finished shredding, switch off the machine to avoid overheating. What happens to the paper waste afterwards is up to you, whether it’s recycling it for office décor or sending it to a junk shop.
Many businesses carry paper shredders of their own so that they can shred documents whenever they please. Paper or document shredding services, on the other hand, involve picking up your bulk paper waste and delivering them to a private facility. From here, experts place the paper waste into a machine for shredding.
If you’re uncertain about the value of paper shredding, here are a few reasons your business should begin practicing responsible document shredding:
1. Confidentiality
Every company has a stack of documents that contain personal information of their employees, clients or partners. To ensure the privacy of your business and its associates, it’s best to entrust your paper disposal to shredding services. Reliable shredding businesses cut up each document into tiny irrecoverable pieces, making it almost impossible to recover any information from the recycled pile.
2. Preventing Identity Theft
Cases of identity theft are becoming more and more prevalent because of our increasing reliance on the Internet. However, paper documents are still highly vulnerable to information breaches. A salary with a name, address, and personal information, for example, is already a potential threat to identity theft. It is considered “best practice” for businesses to avoid fraud and other identity concerns.
3. Compliance with the Law
Everyone has the right to protection of personal information. In fact, there are laws that penalize improper disposal of documents that contain sensitive and confidential content. Companies and organizations that carry personal data but neglect to ensure its protection can face legal and financial consequences.
4. Increased Client Trust
Your business reputation is one of your most valuable assets. Some business work with clients from various industries, including sensitive fields like education, law and medicine. When you choose to work with a waste management company for your paper shredding needs, you give your clients peace of mind. They will trust your business knowing that you have their best interests at heart.
5. Minimized Clutter and Fire Hazards
When left abandoned, piles of paper can create clutter in your office and, worse, increase the risks of fire. Offices need to constantly get rid of unused paper and, instead, opt for a digital upload of documents. Many offices opt for paper shredding services or purchase their own paper shredder for safe and efficient destruction of paper documents. This way, you can keep your office space clean and free from potential fires.
6. Convenience
Transporting a big pile of paper waste can be difficult for businesses, especially if you’re dealing with subsequent transactions daily. If you’re worried about transport, a dependable shredding service provides the solutions you need. They have skips that can pick up the waste in your office so you don’t need to hand them over yourself.
7. A Cost-Effective Option that is Readily Available
Paper shredding machines can be costly for businesses. They can be expensive and too costly to maintain. Keeping them running for long hours can also increase the price of your monthly electricity bills. If you want to save money, opt for paper shredding services. Outsourcing your paper waste disposal reduces your costs and helps you spend your funds on more crucial aspects of your business.
8. Reduced Environmental Impact
Every day, we fill up the landfill with tons of discarded paper. If you have a commitment to Zero Waste as well as the reduction of trash you send to the landfill, that’s going to be a big help to the environment. With paper shredding, you can use the leftover paper and reuse them for other purposes, such as room décor or Christmas gift filling. This way, you divert your waste from the landfills.
You can do your part in minimising costs, ensuring eco-conscious practices, and abiding by the law through paper shredding. You can also choose to send your paper waste to a waste management company if you want to take the job off your hands. After your documents have been shredded, paper shredding experts take care of the accumulated paper and ensure they are recycled responsibly. It all boils down to caring for your people, the law, and the environment.
