Frequently Asked Questions

Using Shredsec’s shredding services saves your organisation time and money while providing better security:

• No capital outlay – You won’t need to buy, maintain or replace shredding machines.
• Staff productivity – Your team won’t waste hours feeding documents through a slow office shredder.
• No preparation needed – We shred staples, paperclips, lever arch files and binders whole. Office shredders require you to remove all fastenings first.
• Higher security – Most office shredders are strip-cut (DIN Level 1-2), producing ribbons that can be reconstructed. Our industrial cross-cut shredders operate at DIN Level 3, creating confetti-sized particles.
• Compliance evidence – We provide a Certificate of Destruction for your records. Office shredding provides no audit trail.

If your documents contain no sensitive information, a standard waste collection may be acceptable. However, if they contain personal data or confidential business information, there’s a significant risk.

The Data Protection Act and UK GDPR require organisations to dispose of personal data securely. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) can impose fines of up to £17.5 million for serious breaches. Documents found in general waste have led to significant penalties.

Shredsec provides secure document shredding with a full chain of custody. After shredding, we issue a Certificate of Destruction proving compliant disposal, and all waste paper is recycled into new products.

We operate throughout East Anglia and the East of England, covering:

• Suffolk – Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Newmarket, Sudbury, Haverhill, Stowmarket, Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Lowestoft
• Norfolk – Norwich, Thetford, Diss
• Cambridgeshire – Cambridge, Mildenhall
• Essex – Colchester, Chelmsford
• Hertfordshire – Selected areas

We provide commercial shredding services to organisations of all types and sizes including:

• Legal practices and solicitors
• Accountants and financial services
• Medical practices and healthcare providers
• Schools, colleges and universities
• Local authorities and councils
• Recruitment agencies
• Insurance companies
• Retail businesses
• Manufacturing companies
• Charities and non-profits

We offer the same high standards of service to every client, whether you’re a large financial institution or a sole trader working from home.

Yes, our home shredding service is available for individuals, families and home offices. We collect from your door and shred bank statements, utility bills, tax documents, medical correspondence and any other personal paperwork.

Home shredding protects you from identity theft – criminals can use discarded documents to access your accounts, take out credit in your name, or commit fraud. Our service starts from just a few boxes, with no minimum volume.

Every shredding job comes with documented proof of destruction:

• Certificate of Destruction – We issue a certificate confirming the date, time, weight of material and security level. This satisfies audit requirements and proves compliance with data protection regulations.
• DIN Level 3 shredding – Our cross-cut shredders reduce documents to particles no larger than 4mm x 30mm, making reconstruction impossible. Learn more about security levels.
• Witnessed destruction available – With our on-site shredding service, you can watch your documents being destroyed in our mobile shredding truck.

Yes. Our services help you comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018:

• Storage limitation principle – We help you destroy data that’s no longer needed
• Security principle – Cross-cut shredding to DIN Level 3 meets the requirement for secure disposal
• Accountability – Certificates of Destruction provide documented evidence for regulators
• BS EN 15713 – We work to the European Code of Practice for Secure Destruction of Confidential Materials

All our shredding is carried out to DIN Level 3 (P-3) as standard. This means documents are cross-cut into particles no larger than 4mm x 30mm – the minimum recommended level for confidential business documents and personal data.

Higher security levels (DIN 4, 5, 6) are available for classified or highly sensitive material. See our complete guide to shredder security levels.

We provide paper shredding services for all document types:

• Office documents – Reports, correspondence, printouts, contracts
• Financial records – Invoices, statements, accounts, payroll
• Personnel files – Employee records, applications, appraisals
• Client files – Customer records, case files, patient notes
• Archive material – Historical records, completed projects, expired contracts
• Personal documents – Bank statements, utility bills, tax returns

We also shred:

• Lever arch files and ring binders (complete with mechanisms)
• Cardboard folders and wallets
• Window envelopes
• Carbon paper

No preparation is needed. Our industrial shredders handle:

• Staples and paperclips
• Treasury tags and pins
• Binder clips and bulldog clips
• Lever arch file mechanisms
• Ring binder rings
• Plastic document wallets
• Window envelopes

We collect and shred everything – you don’t need to spend time removing fastenings.

Our core service is paper document shredding and we do not handle electronic media.

Learn more about secure data disposal for different media types.

We offer flexible collection frequencies to match your needs:

• Daily – For high-volume environments
• Weekly – Most popular for medium-sized offices
• Fortnightly – For moderate confidential waste
• Monthly – For smaller volumes
• On-demand – One-off collections when you need them

Our regular shredding contracts can be adjusted at any time – increase frequency during busy periods or reduce it during quiet times, with no penalties.

Simply call or email us to arrange an additional collection. We can usually attend quickly for customers in our core Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich areas.

If bins regularly fill before collection day, we’ll suggest adjusting your schedule – our flexible contracts make this easy with no penalties.

Yes. We understand that shredding collections during busy office hours can be disruptive. We offer:

• Early morning collections – Before your office opens
• Weekend collections – By arrangement

Just let us know your preferred times when setting up your service.

We have no minimum volume. Our customers range from large financial institutions with daily collections to individuals with a single box of personal documents.

For home shredding, we’ll collect even one box. For businesses, we can start with whatever volume you have and adjust your service as needs change.

For one-off collections, the invoice is sent immediately after shredding is completed.

For regular contract customers, we invoice monthly in arrears for all collections during that period.

We accept payment by bank transfer or cheque.

No. Our regular shredding contracts are designed to be flexible:

• No long-term lock-in – After the trial, contracts continue on a rolling basis
• 30 days’ notice – Cancel anytime with one month’s notice
• Adjustable frequency – Change your schedule without penalties

For one-off shredding, there’s no contract at all – just book when you need us.

On-site shredding: Our mobile shredding truck comes to your premises. Documents are destroyed in the truck while you watch – they never leave your sight. Best for highly sensitive material or when witnessed destruction is required.

Off-site shredding: We collect your documents and transport them to our secure facility for shredding. More cost-effective, with the same security standards and Certificate of Destruction.

Both services use the same DIN Level 3 cross-cut shredding. The choice depends on your security requirements and budget.

All shredded paper is recycled. After shredding, the material is baled and sent to paper mills where it’s processed into new paper products or cardboard packaging.

• On-site shredding – Documents are destroyed immediately at your premises
• Off-site shredding – All material is shredded within 24 hours of collection

Your Certificate of Destruction is issued as soon as shredding is complete.