What Can and Can Not Go in a Shred-it Shredding Bin

While recycling paper documents in the bin is the right thing to do, doing so without shredding them first is a quick way for sensitive information to fall into the wrong hands.
 
To combat this, Shred-it offers secure document destruction services to businesses looking to protect their information security – all documents are destroyed and recycled, safely and securely using our tamper-proof Shred-it consoles.
 
Most organisations have a lot more than paper documents to securely dispose of though. Here's what you need to know about what can and can’t go in a Shred-it console.

What Can Go in Secure Shredding Consoles

As a general rule of thumb, if you have sensitive work information printed out on any sort of paper, it can be thrown in the Shred-it console for safe disposal. This includes documents like client files and contact lists, financial reports, employee records, strategy development plans and any documents containing private correspondence.
 
Most paper-based items are safe for Shred-it consoles so long as they are not in contact with anything flammable. Don’t worry about separating items that have been stapled or clipped together, either. Small metal items like paper clips can also be thrown in.

What Cannot Go in Secure Shredding Consoles Electronics

Electronics and office supplies cannot go into Shred-it consoles. There are a variety of risks involved if these items make their way into the tamper-proof consoles. As an example, many electronic items use lithium batteries, which are highly flammable and can result in a fire if not treated carefully.
 
Lithium batteries have become more prevalent in portable devices like laptops and smart phones, many of which are used to store confidential work information. As a result, electronic devices are often thrown in Shred-it consoles in a well-intentioned effort to increase data security.

Unfortunately, when mishandled, these batteries risk overheating, catching fire, or exploding. Combined with paper-based documents in a tamper-proof console, this can result in a dangerous fire hazard or explosion.

Syringes, Glass, Office Supplies, and More

Electronics aren’t the only thing that can contaminate. Syringes, glass, cans, cardboard tubes, ink cartridges and toners, hanging folders, nuts and bolts, office supplies like hole punchers and staple removers, and even food can all be harmful or damaging when thrown in a Shred-it console carelessly.
 
To combat this, we recommend using services that can dispose of these items properly. Shred-it offers specialised services to safely dispose of hard drives and electronics.
 

How to Further Protect Your Organisation from Data Breaches

Contact us for a free quote or to learn more about how our Shred-it consoles and data destruction services can help protect your documents.
 
 
Disclaimer
 
This article is provided for your convenience and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should not take, or refrain from taking, actions based upon the content of this article. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Please seek professional legal advice.