Businesses have a legal obligation to protect personal and confidential information of their clients or patients. Documents containing sensitive information can consist of medical records, health history, human resource files, tax statements, bank statements, and more. It’s important for businesses to have policies and procedures in place to avoid the risks of this data being misused. One of the best practices for destroying confidential documents is by properly shredding them. Hiring a professional and reliable document shredding company you can trust helps give you peace of mind that your client, customer, and patient information is being protected using the highest level of safety standards. So how much do professional shred services cost? In this article we’ll review cost-effective ways to shred your documents.

Understanding the difference between On-site mobile shredding and Off-site shredding

On-site, mobile shredding is generally considered a premium service. The mobile shred truck comes to your place of business and shreds your paper documents or hard drives curbside for you to watch as it’s being done. This is a great option when witnessed destruction is required and there’s a large volume of documents or files to be shredded. Pricing can vary based on your volume and may be quoted by box or by cart or bin. Your quote may be determined by how your documents are stored, whether in boxes or in file cabinets.

Off-site shredding, also known as plant service or pick up service, is when a truck or van arrives to your facility, boxes or carts are loaded into the vehicle, and securely transported back to the shredding facility for final destruction. Your boxes are then recycled too! This is a sufficient option when witnessed destruction is not required and is normally the cost-effective solution for shredding cleanouts of all sizes.

How to help reduce your shredding service costs

Details, details, details! The more information you’re able to provide upfront to your document or data destruction company, the more likely you’ll receive simple, upfront costs. When important details, such as staircase only access, oversized boxes, x-rays mixed in, etc. aren’t discussed up front, then you’re more likely to incur additional fees. It’s best to provide as much information as possible when discussing the details of your shred job or cleanout needs with the shredding company.

There are some steps you can take to help reduce the costs of your shredding service. If your documents or boxes are stored in a basement or attic with staircase only access, bring them to ground level where it’s easier access for the service technician. This can help save on additional labor costs. If your boxes contain a mixture of paper and x-rays or other media, separate those items. Most shredding companies will recycle the various waste types and may charge additional fees for separating the materials. Be as flexible as possible with your day and time of service. The less limitations there are on scheduling your service, the more likely you are to get a better rate. This is because the shredding company will want to optimize fuel-efficient routes based on location, which will help reduce your costs.

Ask about drop off services. Many document shredding companies offer drop off services at very low rates. You coordinate the transport of your documents to the shredding company’s facility instead of them picking up or providing on-site shredding service. You may still have the ability to watch as it’s being shredded during the drop off.

Now that you understand the various shredding services and how to help minimize your costs, your next step is to contact a document shredding company to request a quote. If you’re generating paper waste on a regular basis, ask about recurring console shredding services. This option may help keep you organized and streamline your document management efforts, which may save you money as well.

Request a Document Shredding or Data Destruction Quote

Here at BWS, Inc., we have over 45 years experience safely collecting, transporting, and disposing of sensitive waste such as patient records and client documentation for a variety of industries in the mid-Atlantic area, including Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia always with the highest level of safety standards and business practices. Our service options include secure on-site mobile shredding, off-site pick up, recurring console service, and drop off. We offer options fit the needs of all customers, all job sizes. Our specialized customer care team will work with you on the best option that fits your needs and your budget. Call or contact us today for a free quote and to get started with a local and reliable, professional document and data destruction management partner you can count.

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