Ask These 4 Questions Before Hiring a Document Destruction Pro!

Does your business have employee or customer documents with PII (personally identifiable information) that you must get rid of? In that case, working with a professional document shredding service is best! While it may sound like a hassle, this is the most convenient way to responsibly handle sensitive information and keep it away from the wrong hands.

However, if this is your first time hiring a professional paper shredding service, we understand it can be difficult for you to judge who would make for the right partner. This article will discuss some top questions to ask your shredding service provider before hiring them for the job to ensure everything goes smoothly.

What services do you offer?

A seasoned shredding service provider should offer you a range of services that help meet different needs. These could include one-time shredding for a large purge or regular document destruction at a particular time. Your partner should also offer conveniently located drop-off options and priority shredding for your urgent disposal needs. A lot of experienced shredding companies also provide media and hard drive destruction!

Do you offer offsite or onsite shredding solutions?

It is critical you know where your documents will be destroyed. A decent shredding service should offer you both offsite and mobile (onsite) shredding services. However, it would help if you remember that both offsite and mobile shredding services are equally safe and certified.

Different service providers will have additional legal requirements or preferences, so not everyone might offer you both services. Depending on your business's needs and wants, you can choose whichever service you see fit. If you are confused, you can always check out the differences and benefits of both methods online to make an informed decision.

What happens to my documents after it is shredded?

An experienced shredding service will do its best to protect your privacy and the environment. A responsible service provider will recycle all your shredded documents immediately after destruction. Ideally, the waste is baled and shipped to a recycler or directly to a pulp mill, where it's used to make various business and consumer products.

Is there anything I need to do to prepare for shredding?

Before you finalize a professional, ensure you ask what you need to do to prepare your materials. For example, many shredding service providers will not collect loose papers since there is an added risk of losing items that get dropped. Then, there is also the issue of what materials your shredding service can and cannot destroy.

Several shredding companies charge businesses a premium for paper with staples or plastic (also known as a contamination charge). With the wrong partner, you and your staff may have to spend hours trying to pick out staples, or you may have to pay a hefty charge.

These four questions are the most important when deciding whether a shredding service is worth your time and money. However, it would be best to remember that a shredding supplier should look and go beyond these considerations. We hope you have everything you need to make an informed decision.