Media and Product Destruction

Benefits Of Secure Destruction

We work with client businesses across all sectors to ensure that their end of life Media, Data, Uniforms and Physical stock is destroyed securely. Secure product and media destruction ensures that our clients brand, their IP and their identity remain secure.

Data and drives are rendered unrecoverable
· Statutory legal obligations fulfilled
· Piece of mind for future security
· Anonymity of waste at all stages
· Certificated process
Environmentally efficient

Why is secure shredding important?

Business security and identity protection are now a primary business concern.

It is possible for a single hard drive or disk to contain thousands of files. It is not sufficient for a Data Controller to instruct an IT engineer to wipe information from electronic media. Information can still remain after deletion. For example, emails and online activity are still recoverable by those with the ‘know how’ and motive. The surest way to know that information can never be recovered from electronic media is to physically destroy it.

Topwood are experts in the secure destruction of data. Our low speed high torque industrial shredder cuts and grinds the media into tiny fragments until they pass through a screen (30mm down to 6mm depending on security requirements). Once powder-like the rendered material is sent to a smelter so it can be recycled.

What items can be destroyed

Hard drives

Discs and cassettes

Uniforms and clothing

Point of sale or promotional materials

Identity and security materials

Misprinted or rejected stock

Our high torque industrial shredders can destroy a wide range of materials. We shred hard drives, discs and cassettes, clothing and any number of other substances.

Once material is rendered down we can grade the material and process for reuse or recycling. Depending on the nature of the material’ we ensure that you are fully compliant with the waste handling regulations and that documentation is complete.

Types of Media Destruction Available from Topwood

Mechanical	Disintegration	Degausing
Mechanical Destruction Shredding reduces items to small pieces which are approximately the size of a thumbnail. Doing so will eliminate the possibility of data theft and give you complete peace of mind that the media has been completely destroyed.	Disintegration using a 6mm screen mechanical disintegration cutting items into pieces until they are small enough to fall though the screen. Once complete the material is powder like – totally unrecognisable and with no possibility in anyway of being reconstructed.	By using a machine called a Degausser we are able to erase data from magnetic media such as tapes or disks. The Degausser changes the magnetic field on the media thereby permanently removing any stored information without the possibility of recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I destroy my stored files?

How do I destroy branded uniforms and corporate workwear?

Can you shred whole lever arch files?

Do you have to remove staples before shredding?

No, you do not need to remove staples and other stationery prior to shredding one sheet at a time as this is costly, time consuming and can pose a risk of a data breach. The shredders we use for our document shredding service can shred through staples and all types of stationery. Failure to remove staples could jam your office shredders and causes burn outs. Using a professional paper shredding company like Topwood means our industrial paper shredders can tear through your confidential documents and personal information saving you the hassle of removing them. Read on to find out more.

It is likely that your files will have staples, paper clips, bulldog clips, treasury tags and other metal stationery keeping papers together.

Contents 1. Can staples go through a shredder? 2. Where can I take my documents to be shredded? 3. Can lever arch files be recycled? 4. Do paper shredding companies recycle?

Can staples go through a shredder?

Yes, our commercial cross cut shredders can cut through most things (including electronic data such as CD's, hard drives and even laptops - see our media destruction page for more information) ... so they can easily shred continuous printout paper, diaries, files and lever arch files - staples are not challenging! Paper for shredding can be destroyed and recycled even if the following are attached:

Staples
Envelope windows
Bulldog clips
Spring file clips
Paper clips
Metal spiral bindings (found on notepads etc)
Plastic spiral bindings
Plastic document wallets

Where can I take my documents to be shredded?

We can provide document shredding services on-site or off-site basis. Depending on the volume of documents you have to recycle we can cater for all confidential shredding requirements. For high volume sensitive document shredding we recommend on-site,one-off document shredding. For smaller, more frequent document destruction requirements we would recommend our regular shredding service where we would provide confidential waste bins; either consoles, wheelie bins or shred sacks and collect or shred on-site on a regular basis. We would provide you with a certificate of destruction after every visit.

Can lever arch files be recycled?

Yes, at Topwood, we can shref and recycle your lever arch files and ring binders in our industrial shredders, however we need to know in advance as not all shred trucks can handle these files and it is likely that the contamination rate is more than 3% which affects our recycling rates. Click the link to read more about shredding lever arch files.

Do paper shredding companies recycle?

Yes, at Topwood, we securely dispose of and recycle all the paper we shred. As a guide, a contamination rate of 3% or less (by weight) is acceptable. If the contamination (of staples, bindings etc.) is more than 3% there is a danger the material cannot be recycled and that may mean disposal charges will be incurred. Watch our video below showing documents for shredding, staples and paperclips going directly into the shredder.

Contact Us

If you would like to find out more about our secure document scanning, shredding and storage solutions call 0800 781 1066 or request a call back using our call back form.