Knowledge articles | Shred Station

Commercial shredding

Learn more about commercial shredding.

How to destroy end-of-life products and expired stock

Selling expired stock could pose a risk to public health, and end-of-life products could have hefty storage costs. So, what should you do with these items?

Destroying PPE and safety equipment

PPE and safety equipment destruction is one of the most common product destruction enquiries we receive. But why?

What should you do with old HR records?

HR records are varied and contain some of the most sensitive information an organisation can hold. When no longer needed, HR records should be destroyed.

Protecting your brand with professional product destruction

There are many types of products that companies may need to destroy. What your business needs to destroy may be entirely different from another business.

What to do with misprints?

What should you do with clothes or products that have misprints, flaws, and imperfections?

What products can be destroyed?

Shred Station can destroy all kinds of products, from old stock to products that fail safety checks. What sort of products do other companies destroy, and what should you do with your old branded products?

Which shredding services are best for medium and large businesses?

We break down the best shredding services for medium to large businesses and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Businesses are still mishandling paperwork and devices containing personal information

Data security incident trends suggest that hundreds of businesses are still not taking adequate measures to protect confidential information.

What to do with obsolete or dead stock?

Stock goes out of season, out of fashion, off-trend, past its shelf life, or becomes obsolete as technology progresses. So, what should you do with this stock?

What types of information should nurseries, schools and educational establishments destroy?

What information should schools keep, and what should they destroy?

5 reasons to use a shredding service

It is a legal requirement for all businesses to ensure the responsible destruction of confidential information and sensitive records.

Cargo and freight disposal facts

What happens to undeliverable, unclaimed, abandoned or seized cargo in the UK? Our article explains the potential outcomes.

How to organise a workplace spring clean

Round up your colleagues! A spring clean is a key step in staying on top of your data destruction obligations.

Things you need to know about document retention and destruction in the legal sector

Knowing when to retain and destroy documents should be a top priority for law firms.

9 simple steps to prevent data breaches in the workplace

There are many steps your organisation can take to improve cybersecurity and prevent data breaches. First, the key to any solution is identifying that there is a problem.

Implementing a ‘clean desk’ policy

A ‘clean desk’ policy is an important way to make sure that sensitive and/or confidential materials are always put away and secured when people are away from their desks.

What's the best way to demonstrate GDPR compliance?

How can your business demonstrate GDPR compliance in relation to retaining and destroying information?

How to protect your business from corporate espionage and data theft

We explore several steps you can take to protect your business from corporate espionage and company data theft.

How organisations can keep healthcare confidential data secure

Medical records contain some of the most sensitive personal data to be found anywhere.

Destruction process

Learn about how your materials will be destroyed, and what comes afterwards.

Can I shred multiple materials in one service?

We explain what happens when you need to shred multiple materials at once.

From paper to pulp: the lifecycle of shredded documents

We destroy over 60,000 tonnes of paper each year. So, what happens to this paper after we've shredded it?

How does Energy from Waste work?

Shred Station operates with a Zero to Landfill policy. For non-recyclables, we use Energy from Waste. How does that work?

Is it okay to shred paper with staples, plastic wallets, and paper clips?

Many people ask us whether they can shred paper with staples, plastic wallets, paper clips and folders still in place. With Shred Station, you can.

Destroying large volumes of confidential materials

If you have large volumes of materials to destroy, what are your best options, and how can Shred Station help?

What happens after shredding?

We explain what happens to your confidential materials after we've shredded them.

The different types of paper shredders

There are many types of paper shredders out there. We explain the different types and their security differences.

What will happen to money, stamps and uniforms with the queen’s imagery or cypher?

What will happen to money, stamps, and uniforms with the queen’s imagery after her passing?

10 things you never knew could be shredded

Our customers are always surprised to know about the strange and unusual things that go through our shredders...

How do shredding companies work?

If you’ve done a bit of research and still aren’t sure how shredding companies work, we can help.

How does degaussing work?

To understand how degaussers work, first, we have to understand how hard drives work.

What do shredding companies do with the paper?

Once we’ve shredded your confidential paperwork, we recycle it at UK paper mills.

Let’s talk shredders

As well as shred size, it’s vital to know the key differences between strip-cut, cross-cut and multi-cut shredding, DIY shredding and shredding services.

Mobile (on-site) and off-site shredding: what’s the difference?

With on-site shredding, we’ll shred at your premises on board a specialist truck. With off-site, we’ll take the materials to our secure depots for shredding.

Expert guidance

Enhance your knowledge around data protection and shredding best practices.

Where is the safest place to shred documents?

If you aren't confident about where to shred your documents safely, we can help.

How do you dispose of classified or confidential documents?

Classified documents and confidential documents should be destroyed when they are no longer needed.

How to destroy paper in bulk

If you have a large quantity of paper that needs to be bulk shredded, using a fully accredited shredding service provider is the best option.

What to do with misprints?

What should you do with clothes or products that have misprints, flaws, and imperfections?

What to do with small quantities of confidential documents?

How to avoid unsafe disposal, overheating shredders, and the risk of your materials falling into the wrong hands.

What is the best way to destroy a hard drive?

If you have old hard drives that need to be destroyed, it's important to consider all effective methods of destruction.

What can I put in my shredding bags and bins?

Here is our guide to what Shred Station customers can put in their bags, boxes or bins for shredding.

7 questions to ask a shredding service provider before making your decision

Here are seven questions we advise you to ask your potential shredding service suppliers before making a decision to sign on the dotted line.

Processing CCTV footage – your obligations for home security systems and for business CCTV

If you are installing CCTV at your home or business, you need to consider data protection and public rights.

How to keep devices containing confidential information safe?

For devices containing confidential information, you should use encryption and take steps to safeguard against their loss or theft.

How do you get rid of confidential waste?

There are many types of confidential waste. But what’s the best way to dispose of it?

Things you shouldn’t shred

At the top of the list of things you shouldn't shred are the documents and ID materials you'll likely need for your entire lifetime.

Ensuring data security with remote workers

Over 40% of Brits work flexibly from home. Without the protection of on-premise security, how can your organisation support remote employees to keep data safe?

Disposing of confidential material responsibly

Confidential information is everywhere. Instead of throwing confidential information away or letting it gather dust in storage, it should be securely destroyed.

How to destroy a credit card

Credit card information can still be used maliciously, even after cards have expired. How can you destroy your old credit cards securely?

Recruitment regulations for collecting, sharing and destroying candidate information

What can recruiters and recruitment companies do to protect candidate information at all stages of the interview process?

Chain of custody - what does it mean and why is it crucial for businesses?

What is a chain of custody, and how can it help prove GDPR compliance?

6 types of documents you never knew you should shred

There are many types of documents that you should dispose of securely – not just those that contain obvious confidential information.

What's the best way to demonstrate GDPR compliance?

How can your business demonstrate GDPR compliance in relation to retaining and destroying information?

Your five-minute guide to data retention and GDPR

This quick guide will help your business to comply with the regulations surrounding the secure disposal of personal information.

Simple guide to GDPR compliance and data destruction

Your data protection policy should include GDPR, and the importance of adhering to the policy reinforced.

Which documents should you shred?

Which documents can you shred, and which do you need to keep?

Data security incidents in the health sector

The UK’s healthcare industry often experiences more data breaches than any other industry.

GDPR compliance for startups and new businesses

Starting a new business is an exciting step for all entrepreneurs, but it may come with quite a steep learning curve. One thing that shouldn't be an afterthought is data protection.

Identity theft awareness

Learn how to protect personal information from the risk of identity theft.

How should you dispose of IoT smart devices?

IoT devices can store personal information about their owners. So, how should you dispose of IoT devices?

Recommended by decluttering services

How can you declutter quickly but also ensure you aren’t throwing confidential documents into general waste bins? Are old mobile phones safe to throw away? What about dusty old computers?

7 strange UK data breaches involving lost or unprotected information

We dive into 7 strange data breaches that involved lost or unprotected physical information.

Has your paper shredder stopped working?

If your paper shredder has stopped working, it might be time to outsource your shredding.

Is it time to retire your home or office shredder?

If you or your business is still using an office shredder, it could be time to retire it.

Where can I take my papers for shredding?

If you want to destroy paperwork but don't have a shredder at home, we can help.

Fraud is the most common crime in England and Wales

Often, fraud can occur and you won’t know anything about it until you need a credit check, apply for loans, or notice something suspicious on your bank statements.

7 data protection tips for university students

We discuss some of the best ways to keep your information safe while studying.

How to protect the identities of children online

A growing number of children and young people are falling victim to fraud. How can we protect the identities of children online?

Why are medical records so valuable to data thieves?

Medical records contain a lot of confidential information. Thieves can use this data to create false identities, commit fraud, and even obtain prescriptions.

5 ways to protect against identity theft

Fraud is one of the most common crimes in the UK. Here's how you can protect yourself from the risks of identity theft.

Recycling

Learn about how recycling works in the UK.

Plastic usage and recycling in the UK – now and in the future

Why is plastic use so widespread, and what does the future of plastics look like in the UK?

How do you securely recycle old smartphones?

What should we do with our mobile phones when they get broken, or we treat ourselves to an upgrade?

Recycling specific types of commercial plastic waste

To ensure your plastic stands the best possible chance of recycling, it’s important to separate it by plastic type.

Textile recycling in the UK

Why is textile recycling so difficult, and do textiles actually get recycled in the UK?

Alternatives to non-recyclable paper products

We always recommend using recyclable alternatives for common non-recyclable paper products.

How do you recycle waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)?

Recycling WEEE, or waste electrical and electronic equipment, is crucial for several reasons.

Can you put shredded paper in the recycling?

Many councils and waste collectors don't accept shredded paper in with mixed recycling. But why?

What to do with 3D printer plastic waste?

3D printing can generate a lot of plastic waste. What should you do with this waste?

Shredding safely

Ensure your shredding services are as safe as possible, for your team and ours.

Why not burn paper instead of shredding?

There are many things you could do to destroy your unwanted personal documents. We explain why you should never burn it.

What not to put in your office shredder

If you're still using a home or office shredding machine, there are many things you shouldn't shred.

5 information destruction mistakes to avoid

Avoid these mistakes when destroying your confidential information.

Safety notice regarding batteries in shredding bins

Please do not put batteries in your shredding bins!

Is it time to retire your home or office shredder?

If you or your business is still using an office shredder, it could be time to retire it.

The dangers of in-house shredding

Shredding your documents in-house can be dangerous. We explore the dangers of in-house shredding.

Shredding standards

Learn about what shredding standards actually mean, and why they matter for your information security.

5 little-known facts about the shredding industry

We explore some shredding industry facts you may not have known…

PCI DSS certification vs PCI DSS compliance: What’s the difference?

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) is a set of standards that all businesses that process, transmit or store cardholder data must adhere to in order to keep payment information secure.