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Document Shredding FAQs

Do I need to sort the paper?

No, you don’t need to remove the paper clips, staples or binder clips.

Do you shred residential or home office documents?

Total shredding is pleased to offer shredding for home office use within local bylaws and community only restrictions.

Must I go on a regular schedule or can I just do a one-time purge of documents?

It’s your choice, we can set up a regular schedule which is good if you consistently have a large number of documents that need shredding. Or you can schedule a one-time pickup whenever needed if that’s the route you would prefer. Both have their advantages but should be based on the needs of your company. If you sign up for a regularly scheduled ser vice we will provide free secure document consoles and/or carts.

How is the material stored?

We provide locked office-quality consoles or bins FREE of charge and place them in convenient locations throughout your office. Within these consoles your sensitive material is stored in specially-designed bags, and bins only the designated contact within your organization has a key to them.

When do I receive my invoice?

Typically, the invoice is electronically delivered to you within a few business days, along with your certificate of destruction.

What happens to the paper after it has been shredded?

The destroyed documents, in the form of confetti-sized pieces, are transferred directly to a recycling facility. Once there, they return to the marketplace in the form of items such as recycled household paper products.

What constitutes confidential information?

All businesses produce sensitive information, which would be of interest to any competitor. Some examples of this material include:
• Customer lists
• Sales statistics
• Financial records
• Personnel files
• Legal documents
• Cancelled checks
• Account records
• Computer printouts
• Medical records
• Advertising misprints
• Correspondence and memos
• Tax records
• Invoices
• Price lists
• Inventory lists
• Outdated business records
• New product proposals
• Credit card receipts
• Competitive information

What happens if our bin is full before the regularly scheduled service time?

Just call and we’ll be happy to schedule an extra pick-up. Also, if you find that you’re filling your bin before the next service date frequently, we can provide you with additional bins or increase the frequency of your service.

Do you do off-site shredding?

In select markets only, Total shredding is pleased to offer convenience of off site shredding for large volumes.

We have an in-house office shredder, so why would we outsource?

It's much more cost-effective to deal with Total shredding. Time is money, and the time your employees spend separating paper, removing paper clips and staples, and doing the actual shredding is time that could be spent on more profitable business pursuits. Installation of a shredder, as well as labor, maintenance and disposal costs are usually much higher than expected (not to mention the noise, mess and dust produced by an office shredder).

What type of container should I keep my documents in until they are ready to be destroyed?

You always want to keep private and confidential files that are being disposed for shredding in a locked container. NEVER throw them in the recycling or garbage, this can be very dangerous. There is a large variety of containers with different styles and purposes, we can always help you in deciding which bins or containers will be suitable for your business. In some instances, we provide containers at no cost to the client.

What size jobs do you accept?

There is no job too large or too small. We service every requirement from small offices to large business and homes.

What if I only need to use your service one time or for annual clean-ups?

No problem. Whatever your requirements, from daily activity to annual purges, we are happy to meet your needs with our proven compliant standards.

What type of shredding do you offer?

Total shredding trucks utilizes a crosscut shredding process, reducing materials to fine pieces of confetti, offering greater security than conventional strip-cut shredders. These fine pieces cannot be reconstructed.Our unique shredder trucks have the technology and power to break down everything from paper, fabric and plastic to electronics and. We can shred CDs, videotapes, DVDs, microfiche and even casino chips.

How often do you come to shred?

As often as you need us. Your scheduled service depends on your organization and the amount of sensitive information you produce. Frequency will be determined prior to service by you and your Total shredding Sales Representative. You may require shredding every day, once a week, once a month, or once a year. And if your service needs change, your frequency can be modified accordingly.

We store our records, so why do we need a shredding service?

Every document eventually outlives its useful purpose. And retaining them too long can put you in jeopardy of non-compliance under the privacy legislation. How long business records are stored should be determined by a retention schedule that takes into consideration the records usefulness to the business as well as legal requirements.

From a risk management perspective, once this period has passed, the only acceptable way of discarding these records is to destroy them using a method of complete destruction. Shredding is the safest way to ensure that documents are completely destroyed. And a Certificate of Destruction which documents the exact date and method used is not only prudent but a legal requirement.

How am I able to determine our environmental contribution?

Total shredding is an environmentally-conscious company that takes recycling very seriously.

Is the shredding process secure?

Yes. All shredding takes place in a secured, environment. In our on-site shredding trucks process, the contents of your bins are placed directly into the shredder, with no transfer of material taking place before the shredding process.

How often do your employees undergo training?

Comprehensive training is conducted both in our offices and in the field. The combination of these two processes means that we’re training our staff about new aspects of our business on an ongoing basis.

We use a recycler for our documents, so why would I need a shredding service?

Recycling services are not designed to provide security. Nor do they comply with regulations regarding the destruction of your documents. Your documents are transported in their entirety, so if an accident should occur, your confidential information is open to everyone and that is "risky business."

If recycling is part of your environmental mandate, you are still able to fulfill it with Total shredding. We recycle all of your documents into a variety of useful paper products.

Does Total Shredding meet all government compliance laws like FACTA and HIPAA?

Absolutely! Our on-site and off-site shredding service ensures that your company will be shredding its documents safely and securely; meeting all federal and state compliance laws. We are constantly educating all of our employees on the laws and staying up-to-date with any new legislation that may affect how or what is shredded.

Is shredding my personal documents a good idea?

Absolutely. Identity theft is a major problem and finding information to take over your identity is usually as easy as looking in the recycling bin or garbage bin when you put it out for collection. Those pre-approved credit card applications are like gold to identity thieves, allowing them quick access to start fraudulently using your identity to their benefit.

At Total Shredding we are happy to set up residential shredding appointments. Call us today to speak with one of our friendly team members and learn more about the residential shredding process.