What Actually Happens to Paper Shreds You Put in a Recycling Bin

By Samantha Masters | July 28, 2020 | 3 minute read

Shredding documents is a critical step of the data protection process. Documents contain a lot fo vital information on it, including personal, business, or customer data. After shredding the paper, the question becomes what to do with the shreds, and the answer is recycling.

When you’re disposing paper, there are typically two main things in mind, recycling and disposing paper sustainably. In addition, it’s important to keep the sensitive information you are throwing away safe.

When papers are shred through a personal shredder, the papers cannot be properly disposed of for a number of reasons. Therefore, self-recycled paper shreds you put in your own recycling bin will still end up in a landfill.

Why Self-Recycled Paper Shreds End Up in Landfills

It’s important to shred papers when you’re done because of the confidential data on them. With the intention of recycling, the shreds are placed in a recyclable container. However, the papers usually end up in the landfill anyways.

Usually, shreds won’t be recycled because the quantity is too small. The recycling plants aren’t able to filter through the shreds because the quantity is too small, so they end up being passed over.

How to Recycle Paper Shreds

Paper shredding is a key aspect of protection information found on documents. Using a shredding service ensures the shred will go to a recycling center. This is because shredding providers partner with recycling facilities to provide joint services.

Using a shredding services, like mobile or offsite shredding, kills two birds with one stone. This because you able to recycle and keep your paper out of a landfill.

However, this process is also done securely as opposed to if you try to do this yourself because you’d have to choose between security and recycling. However, without a service, one of these tends to be compromised.

Shredding Service Options

Depending on the amount of documents you have, there are several options, including mobile and off-site shredding services.

Mobile Shredding: A shredding truck comes to you to shred your documents curbside. Afterwards, the shreds are taken to a recycling center.

Off Site Shredding: A provider comes to pick up your documents, and takes them to a secure, off-site facility to shred. After the shredding is complete, the shreds are recycled.

Do You Want Help with Recycling Paper Shreds? We Can Help

If you choose to have your paper shredded through a service, Shred Nations can help you with this and make the process as easy as possible for you.

To start the process, fill out the form, use the live chat option, or give us a call at (800) 747-3365. Afterwards, you’ll receive a free, non-obligatory quote from providers near you.