Despite society’s impressive advances in technology, industries like education, law, and finance still rely heavily on printed documents. In fact, a single lawyer can generate up to 20,000 printed pages annually. Many of these contain sensitive information—client details, contracts, or confidential office data—that cannot simply be tossed in the trash. This raises an important question: what’s the safest way to dispose of these documents?
Paper shredding offers a simple yet effective solution. Whether you’re shredding documents yourself or using a professional service, the benefits extend far beyond basic waste disposal. In this blog post, we’ll explore the general benefits of shredding and the specific advantages of using a professional shredding service.
The General Benefits of Paper Shredding
#1. Protect Your Customers and Your Business
The news is replete with stories of companies who, through improper information management, accidentally exposed their customers to the risk of identity theft. A single sheet of paper is enough to cause months of headaches and thousands of dollars in losses. Shredding any and all documents with personal or confidential information is the best way to guarantee that they will never be stolen or compromised. At the same time, you’ll protect your clients and ensure that your business never suffers a bad news cycle.
#2. Reduce Workplace Clutter and Hazards
A few sheets of paper may not seem like anything worthy of prolonged concern, but what about rows of file cabinets, all stuffed to the brim with papers? Storing these documents – simply because you have no means of getting rid of them safely or effectively – can take up valuable floor space, but it could also introduce a safety hazard. In case of emergency, employees might be forced to try and navigate their way through a maze of cabinets or could bump into stacks of papers or garbage cans that should have only been temporary. Paper shredding quickly and securely removes these obstacles.
#3. Improve Document Security
When documents are placed on the curb for trash pickup, they are effectively removed from your ability to control who sees them and where they go. However, the risks begin much earlier than trash day. Suppose a tour of the office is being held, and the guest just happens to spot confidential information lying unattended on the desk. Shredding (and safe storage within a locked office console) guarantees that such a scenario never has the chance to happen, and that information will only ever be obtained by those who have been properly screened and granted permission to use it.
The Benefits of Using Professional Shredding Services
#1. Save Time and Increase Productivity
Shredding documents in-house can be a major disruption to your employees’ workflow, wasting valuable time on an inefficient task. Frequent trips to the office shredder not only break focus but also add up to hours lost each week. On top of that, regular office shredders are slow, often jamming after just one or two sheets, and may require cool-down periods after heavy use.
In contrast, professional mobile shredders can destroy over 375 lbs of paper in minutes. By outsourcing shredding, your company can reclaim that time and stay focused on completing tasks efficiently and on schedule.
#2. Cost-Effective Solution
Standard office shredders are expensive to come by and may require even more in unexpected repairs. Factor in the worth of employee efforts and the result is wholly inefficient, costing you as much as $6,600 every year. Professional shredding services are wonderfully economical in terms of both money and time, and you’ll notice an immediate return on your investment as you’re able to continue uninterrupted in your workday.
#3. Ensure Compliance with Privacy Laws
Certain trades, such as the legal and medical industries, have obligations they are federally required to meet regarding the safe disposal of personal information. A professional paper shredding service guarantees that you and your company will be compliant with HIPAA guidelines and that documents will be disposed of in a manner befitting their information and physical composition (after all, paper records will require different processing and disposal than, say, x-rays or electronic media).
#4. Gain Access to Document Destruction Experts
Professional shredding companies work according to strict legal and industry compliance standards, so you have the assurance that your documents are destroyed securely. Many providers issue Certificates of Destruction as proof for legal or auditing purposes.
#5. Build Trust With Your Customers
Choosing a professional shredding service sends a clear message about how much you value your clients’ privacy. It shows you are committed to protecting sensitive information and willing to take the necessary steps to handle it responsibly. This improves your company’s reputation and enhances customer trust.
#6. Automated Shredding Solutions
By partnering with a professional shredding service, businesses can schedule regular shredding pickups or arrange for one-time purges. This automation reduces the operational burden of document disposal, giving employees more time to focus on other responsibilities.
#7. Practice Responsible Recycling
Operating in an eco-friendly way isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for business, too. Forbes reports that 87% of consumers will hold a more positive mental association with a company if it supports social or environmental issues. The documents passed through the paper shredding process are sorted and recycled by a trusted local recycling facility. Recycling a single ton of paper is enough to save 17 trees and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
Why Partner With a Professional Shredding Service?
While general paper shredding offers improved document security, collaborating with a professional shredding company adds layers of efficiency, assured legal compliance, and trust. Whether it’s handling high volumes of sensitive material or providing documentation of proper disposal, a shredding service ensures you don’t miss a step in securely managing information.
At A1 Shredding in Arizona, we handle shredding for both businesses and individuals. Our services include recurring shredding schedules and one-time purge shredding, helping you manage clutter and sensitive documents with ease.
For more information about our on-site shredding options or to request a free quote, call (602) 759-5103 or reach out to us online.
