Why Choosing a Trusted Shredding Partner Matters for GDPR Compliance
GDPR changed everything about how UK businesses handle personal data. Since May 2018, it’s not enough to protect information while you’re using it—you’re also responsible for what happens when you no longer need it.
That’s where document shredding comes in. And if you’re reading this, you’re probably trying to work out which shredding company to trust with your confidential paperwork.
The Bit Most People Overlook
Here’s what catches organisations out: GDPR doesn’t just cover digital data. Those filing cabinets stuffed with old employee records, client files, contracts, and invoices? They’re covered too. The ICO’s guidance on disposing of records makes clear that you need proper measures in place when getting rid of personal data.
Chucking documents in the recycling bin doesn’t cut it. Neither does a standard office shredder, frankly—but more on that later.
The stakes aren’t trivial. Serious GDPR breaches can attract fines of up to £17.5 million or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever hits harder. Most organisations won’t face the maximum, but even smaller penalties hurt. And that’s before you factor in the reputational damage.
What Actually Matters When Choosing a Shredding Company
Having spoken to plenty of businesses about their document destruction needs, we’ve noticed that people often focus on price first. Understandable, but probably the wrong starting point. Here’s what we’d suggest looking at instead.
Do They Know the Regulations?
This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised. A decent shredding company should understand GDPR requirements and be able to explain how their service supports your compliance. If they can’t articulate this clearly, that’s a red flag.
Look for companies that comply with BS EN 15713—the Code of Practice for Secure Destruction of Confidential Materials. It’s the industry benchmark, and it exists for good reason.
What Happens to Your Documents Between Collection and Destruction?
This is the chain of custody question, and it matters more than most people realise.
Think about it: your confidential documents leave your premises in someone else’s hands. Where do they go? Who handles them? How do you know they’re actually destroyed?
You want to see things like GPS-tracked vehicles, staff who carry ID, and a system that keeps different customers’ materials separate. The people handling your paperwork should be vetted properly: BS7858 is the standard for security screening, and any serious operator will vet their staff against it.
Can They Prove Destruction Actually Happened?
A Certificate of Destruction isn’t just a nice-to-have. If the ICO ever comes knocking, or you face an audit, you’ll want documented proof that your old records were properly destroyed. Any professional shredding company should provide this as standard.
What Level of Shredding Do They Use?
Not all shredding is equal. Cheap office shredders typically produce long strips and determined criminals have reconstructed documents from strip-cut output. It’s been done.
Cross-cut shredding is the minimum for confidential waste. It slices in two directions, producing small particles that are practically impossible to reassemble. Look for DIN 32757 Level 3 or higher. Anything less, and you’re taking unnecessary risks with sensitive material.
Why Office Shredders Often Aren’t Enough
We get it. Buying an office shredder feels like the economical choice. But there are a few problems with this approach.
First, most office shredders are strip-cut, which—as mentioned—isn’t particularly secure. Second, they’re slow. If you’ve got any significant volume of paperwork, someone’s spending hours feeding documents through a machine that jams every fifteen minutes. That’s expensive when you factor in the staff time.
Third, and this is the one people forget: there’s no audit trail. If you shred in-house, you’ve got no independent verification that destruction happened. You’re relying on trust. Professional commercial shredding services give you that paper trail.
And finally, office shredders break. Usually at the worst possible moment, when you’ve got boxes of old files that desperately need destroying.
What We Do at Shredsec
We provide secure shredding across Suffolk, East Anglia, London, and the East Midlands. Rather than just telling you what to look for in a shredding company, here’s how we measure up against those criteria ourselves.
We’re compliant with BS EN 15713. Our staff are vetted to BS7858 standard before they handle any confidential material. We use industrial cross-cut shredders that reduce documents to 4mm x 30mm particles—that’s DIN Level 3, the minimum we’d recommend for business documents.
Every job comes with a Certificate of Destruction. We maintain a full audit trail from the moment we collect your documents to the point they’re destroyed. You can choose on-site shredding if you want to witness the destruction yourself, or off-site if that works better for you.
We provide lockable containers for your premises and can set up regular collections or handle one-off clearouts. Most of the time, we can collect within 24 hours of your call.
The Bottom Line
Secure document destruction isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of those things that matters more than people give it credit for. Get it wrong, and you’re exposed—both legally and reputationally. Get it right, and you’ve ticked off an important part of your GDPR obligations without having to think about it again.
When you’re comparing shredding companies, look past the headline price. Check they’ve got the right certifications, ask about their chain of custody, make sure they’ll give you proper documentation. The cheapest quote isn’t always the best value if it leaves gaps in your compliance.
If you’d like to talk through your requirements, get in touch. We’re happy to have a conversation about what you need—no obligation, no hard sell. Just practical advice on keeping your confidential documents secure.
Contact Shredsec to discuss your shredding requirements.