IT & Data Services
Document destruction
Paper-based records remain one of the most overlooked data security risks in any organisation. From HR files and financial statements to contracts and customer correspondence, physical documents can expose your business to serious regulatory and reputational harm if not disposed of correctly. Our certified document destruction service provides a secure, fully documented, and compliant solution — whatever the volume, sensitivity, or urgency.
Why secure document destruction matters
Paper documents containing personal data, financial records, commercially sensitive information, or employee details are subject to the same data protection obligations as digital records. Disposing of them incorrectly — including placing them in general office waste or unsecured recycling — constitutes a data breach under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and can trigger regulatory investigation, fines, and reputational damage.
Beyond regulatory risk, physical documents are a target for "dumpster diving" — a well-documented social engineering technique where attackers recover discarded documents to gather intelligence, credentials, or personal data for use in fraud or targeted attacks.
A structured, auditable destruction process — with certificates of destruction and chain-of-custody records — protects your organisation, satisfies your legal obligations, and demonstrates due diligence to clients, auditors, and regulators.
Destruction methods
The following destruction options are available.
Cross-cut shredding
The most widely used method for routine confidential document disposal. Documents are cut into small rectangular particles in two directions, making reassembly practically impossible for the vast majority of use cases. Meets DIN 66399 security levels P-3 and P-4.
- Suitable for most business documents
- High throughput — ideal for bulk disposal
- Output baled for certified recycling
- Certificate of destruction provided
Micro-cut shredding
A higher-security variant that reduces documents to tiny confetti-like particles — far smaller than cross-cut output. Recommended for highly sensitive materials including legal documents, medical records, financial data, and government-classified content. Meets DIN 66399 security levels P-5 and P-6.
- Near-impossible to reconstruct
- Recommended for regulated industries
- Suitable for legal, medical & financial records
- Certificate of destruction provided
Incineration
The most absolute method of physical document destruction. Documents are transported under secure chain of custody to a licensed incineration facility and destroyed completely at high temperature. No residue, no reconstruction risk. Used for government, defence, legal, and the most sensitive commercial materials.
- Complete, irreversible destruction
- Secure collection & chain of custody
- Licensed facility — Environment Agency compliant
- Certificate of destruction provided
Service options
The following options are available.
One-off clearance
A single collection and destruction event — ideal for office moves, archive clearances, or project close-outs. We collect, destroy, and issue your certificate.
Scheduled collections
Regular weekly, fortnightly, or monthly collections on a managed contract — suited to businesses with ongoing document volumes and compliance obligations.
Did you know?
Did you know?
- The ICO has issued fines specifically for improper disposal of paper records — digital data is not the only concern under UK GDPR.
- "Dumpster diving" — the retrieval of discarded documents — is one of the oldest and most effective social engineering techniques still in active use.
- A standard office shredder producing strip-cut waste does not meet the minimum security level required for confidential business documents under DIN 66399.
- Many cyber insurance policies require documented evidence of secure physical document disposal processes as a condition of coverage.
- Retention schedules matter too — most UK businesses are legally required to retain certain documents for 6–7 years, making secure disposal at end-of-retention equally important.
- The NHS, legal sector, and financial services are among the most heavily scrutinised industries for physical document handling — but obligations apply to all organisations that process personal data.
- Shredded output from certified destruction is baled and sent to paper mills — meaning secure destruction and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive.
Get in touch
Not sure which destruction method is right for your documents or compliance requirements? We're happy to advise on the most appropriate and cost-effective solution for your organisation. To discuss this service or any of our other IT and data services, contact us today.