4 Questions Every Business Should Ask Their Shredding Provider

1. Is Your Business Locally Owned?

If you are invested in your community, why not plan on supporting local businesses? When you “shop local,” those businesses are able to invest in your community by employing your neighbors and supporting local initiatives. A local business is more likely to offer you better service and more flexibility than a nationwide or global organization. Locally-owned should be a priority when searching for a shredding provider.

2. Is Your Business Compliant with Privacy Laws?

You make a point of keeping your business compliant with the law, and it’s just as important that the businesses you work with—and rely on—are also compliant. Are they familiar with and following rules that affect your business, like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA), and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)? Staying in compliance will protect you, your business, staff, clients, and reputation. Don’t assume every shredding provider is knowledgeable, trained, and compliant—ask the question.

3. Is Your Business Shredding Securely?

Not only should your paper be shredded securely, but the shredding company should also offer you a Certificate of Destruction upon request to prove that your documents have been fully destroyed so that you have a record of the event.

4. Is Your Business Recycling Shredded Paper?

Americans use 85,000,000 tons of paper each year. Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. Those 17 trees can absorb a total of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year. If that ton of paper were to be burned, it would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Sadly, in some locations, shredded paper isn’t permitted in commercial or residential recycling bins because of possible contamination with other substances. It ends up in the landfill instead. In contrast, a shredding provider that recycles its paper bales it specifically so it can be accepted at recycling depots.

Now Ask Yourself: Is My First Question the Right Question?

For most business owners, the first question we ask our shredding provider is “what will it cost us?” But the four questions above are how you’ll get the most important answers. Ignoring these questions when researching a shredding provider may end up costing you more than any short-term savings you can find when inquiring solely about price.

If you’re looking for a local, secure, compliant, shredding provider that recycles, consider Wiggins Shredding. We have been working with businesses in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware for over 50 years. Give us a call at 610-692-TEAR(8327) or complete the form on this page.