How DIY Shredding Could Leave You High and Dry

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1. Security Risks

A business person sits at a desk while overwhelmed with piles of shredded office paper. You might think your office shredder is enough to protect sensitive information—but that’s exactly what identity thieves are counting on. Basic home or office shredders often cut paper into strips or cross-sections that can be pieced back together. And yes, people do that.

Professional data thieves can reconstruct shredded documents and extract:

Full names, addresses, and dates of birth
Credit card and bank account numbers
Social Security and health insurance info
Client records, contracts, and more

Armed with this info, criminals can:

Apply for credit in your name
Open fraudulent accounts
Change mailing addresses
Obtain government IDs
Commit medical fraud or sell prescription data

A shredder next to your desk may feel secure—but it likely doesn’t meet HIPAA, FACTA, or GLBA standards. And when that information ends up in a dumpster, you’re not just risking data—you’re risking lawsuits, fines, and your reputation.

2. The Hidden Time Cost

At first, placing a shredder by every desk may seem like a great idea. But before long, your team is spending valuable time on:

Feeding documents a few pages at a time
Clearing paper jams
Waiting for overheated units to cool down
Constantly emptying small bins
Being distracted by the noise

Instead of focusing on core business activities, your staff is tied up in a repetitive, inefficient task. Even small-time drains can turn into major financial losses when multiplied across an entire team.

3. Environmental Setbacks

Doing your own shredding might seem like the eco-conscious thing to do—until you try to recycle it. Most municipal recycling centers do not accept shredded paper due to processing challenges. That means your well-intended efforts are likely ending up in landfills.

When your kids ask how your business helps protect the planet, you may not have a good answer. Professional shredding services, on the other hand, often include sustainable recycling programs, ensuring your shredded materials are reused and responsibly processed.

4. It’s Not Actually Cheaper

Here’s the reality: DIY shredding costs more than you think. The upfront cost of buying multiple shredders is just the beginning.

Add in:

Frequent maintenance and replacements
Higher electricity usage
Labor hours diverted from revenue-producing tasks
Risk of legal exposure from improperly shredded documents
Losses from identity theft or data breaches

When you stack these hidden costs, professional shredding services often come out ahead—and provide better protection.

5. Legal and Compliance Risks

Consider these recent headlines:

“Law firm sued after client data exposed in office breach”
“23andMe pays $30 million after data leak hits millions”

Many industries are governed by strict privacy laws: HIPAA, GLBA, FACTA, and more. If you’re handling financial, healthcare, or legal documents, you are required to follow secure disposal procedures. DIY shredding likely doesn’t meet those standards.

Professional shredding providers offer Certificates of Destruction—a documented chain of custody that proves your compliance and shields you from liability.

Why It’s Time to Rethink DIY Shredding

The convenience of DIY shredding is an illusion. It may feel cheaper or easier, but it leaves you—and your business—open to risks that are far more costly in the long run.

That’s why Pacific Shredding exists. We deliver:

Secure, NAID AAA-Certified shredding
Eco-friendly recycling of shredded paper
On-site or off-site services tailored to your workflow
Documentation for full legal compliance
Reliable, cost-effective alternatives to the DIY approach

Protect your business. Protect your clients. And protect your peace of mind. Call us today at 800-685-9034 or complete the form on this page to get started.

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