There are many different professional shredding services. There are national and local firms, and many require you to work around their schedule. Then others like FileShred make on-site shredding of your personal and business documents available to shred when it is best for you.
How To Find Out
The fastest way for you to determine if a professional document destruction service can provide you with an appointment on the date you prefer is to ask this question: I have X amount of boxes of documents to shred; when are you available to come to my location and do it for me? If you don’t like the answer, move on. If the date is important to you, ask that question first.
On-demand shredding Should Be Convenient
Flexibility and convenience are two of the most significant advantages of shredding services. Unfortunately, many companies are not able to offer their service when a customer would most prefer it. Whether you’re a busy professional or a homeowner decluttering your space, on-demand shredding services should allow you to shred documents when it’s most convenient. The good news is that companies like FileShred offer paper shredding when you want it done.
Shredding On Saturday
If you are busy in your personal or business life Monday through Friday, there are companies like FileShred that offer paper shredding on Saturdays. Not many companies offer it, but it is available, so if Saturday is the best day for you, ask any company you are considering if they offer their service on Saturday.
Protecting Your Privacy Is More Important Than Ever
Identity theft is a growing concern worldwide, with thieves constantly devising new ways to access personal information. Discarding documents containing sensitive data without proper destruction puts you at risk of identity theft, fraud, or other privacy breaches.
Shredding services utilize industrial-grade shredders capable of reducing documents to tiny, unreadable particles, ensuring that your sensitive information remains confidential. From financial statements and medical records to outdated client files, professional shredding services offer a secure solution for disposing of any documents containing personal or proprietary information.
Compliance And Legal Obligations
For businesses, compliance with privacy regulations such as GLB, HIPAA, or FACTA is not optional – it’s a legal requirement. Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines and reputational damage.
Shredding services help businesses meet their compliance obligations by providing a documented chain of custody and a Certificate of Destruction upon completion of the shredding process. This documentation serves as proof that sensitive information was properly destroyed, mitigating the risk of regulatory violations and demonstrating due diligence in safeguarding data.
Environmental Sustainability
Beyond the security benefits, professional shredding services also contribute to environmental sustainability. Once shredded, paper materials are often recycled, reducing the demand for virgin materials and minimizing the carbon footprint associated with paper production.
Individuals and businesses can play a part in conserving natural resources and reducing waste sent to landfills by choosing shredding services that prioritize eco-friendly practices. Additionally, recycling shredded paper helps promote a circular economy, where materials are reused and repurposed rather than discarded after a single use.
Conclusion
You can have your documents destroyed when you want it done. You may just have to talk to a few companies to find one that puts their customer’s convenience over theirs.
By Jim Dowse, CSDS
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Jim Dowse is the CEO of FileShred, a family-owned, local business specializing in document management and secure shredding services. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Jim is a Certified Secure Destruction Specialist (CSDS)—the highest certification in the document shredding field.
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