FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions about SecureShred’s shredding services? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions below for answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to give us a call at 212-904-1111. We’re here to help!

Why should you shred?

Shredding confidential documents is the only way to ensure that your private information does not fall into the wrong hands and your company is compliant with state and federal laws.

Protect yourself, your business, and your clients from identity theft with a shredding program.

How does the process work?

Secure Shred’s mobile shredding trucks are equipped with large industrial shredders.  

We come to your location on a prescheduled day. 

Your documents are then shredded and destroyed on-site at your location so you are confident that your sensitive information will never fall into the wrong hands.

You can watch the entire shredding process as it is happening.

Once your information has been securely shredded and destroyed, you will receive an official Certificate of Destruction with your bill. 

The shredded materials will be securely delivered to a recycling facility to be baled for shipment to a Paper Mill for de-inking and pulping.

How are your documents kept safe before they are shredded?

Customers with recurring service are provided with secure, lockable bins for storing all sensitive and confidential documents. 

Our Shred Technicians will maintain the security of your Shredding Bin as it is transported from your office to our mobile shredding truck, where the contents will be shredded and destroyed.

The shredded materials will be securely delivered to a recycling facility to be baled for shipment to a Paper Mill for de-inking and pulping.

Will any employees ever touch your confidential documents?

No, our system is completely hands-free. Once you put your documents into the locked bin, no one will touch your confidential documents before they are shredded and destroyed.

Does SecureShred recycle?

Yes! All paper shredded on our trucks is brought to a local recycling facility where it is baled and shipped to a paper mill , then mixed with water and bleach and turned into paper pulp, and ultimately made into secondary paper products such as copy paper and paper towels.

Every ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, more than 4,000 kilowatts of energy, and 7,000 gallons of water.

What Size are the bins?

We offer a range of shredding bin sizes to fit your needs.

Console Container:

  • 35”h x 19 ¼”w x 17 ¾”d 
  • Capacity 75-100 lbs.
  • Insertion slot: 17 1/2” x 1 ½”

65 Gallon Container:

  • 42 ½”h x 26”w x 27”d
  • Capacity: 100-200 lbs.
  • 3 legal or 7 letter boxes
  • Insertion slot: 12” x 1 1/4”
What goes in my Shredding Bin?

Click here to see our list of acceptable paper items vs. not acceptable; i.e. coffee cups, brown paper bags, etc.

What should you do with staples, paper clips, binder clips or 3-Ring Binders?

3-Ring Binders: Please remove all 3-Ring Binders from your material to be shredded.  We cannot shred these in our trucks. 

Staples, paper clips and binder clips: You do not need to remove any paper clips, staples, or binder clips from the documents before shredding. If there is an excessive amount of any of these items, we ask that you remove as many as you can. 

If you have any questions, please call us (212) 904-1111.

What if you have X-Rays, Plastic, Metal, Batteries, Ammunition?

Plastic folders and X-rays should be removed prior to your scheduled appointment. 

Solid metal, ammunition or batteries are a fire hazard and will damage our equipment.  For your safety and the safety of others, do not put these materials in your shred bin.  

If you have any questions, please call us (212) 904-1111

What if your Shredding Bin is full before the pick-up date?

Please reach out to our Customer Service Department at (212) 904-111 and we will do our best to arrange an earlier service date for you.

What if you need to destroy Hard-drives, CD’s, Microfilm, Back-up Tapes, VHS tapes, or X-rays?

We can help.  Please call our Customer Service Department at (212) 904-111 for instructions and pricing.

What if I have files stored but need to go through the file cabinets and separate what needs to be shredded?

Secure Shred will drop off Shredding Bins with wheels that you can easily move and load your material into. Once the bins are full, call us to arrange a shredding pick up.  If you need to keep using the bins for your clean out, just let us know.

Can you keep your Cardboard boxes to reuse?
We cannot shred cardboard boxes in our truck, as it quickly dulls the shredding blades. You may keep the boxes for reuse. If you need assistance with their disposal, please let us know, and we can propose a solution to meet your needs.
What Happens to Material That Is Shredded?
When our shredding trucks reach capacity, they are driven back to our partner recycling facility in Long Island, where the shredded paper is unloaded and compacted into 1,000-pound bales. These bales are then transported by tractor-trailer to paper mills across the Northeast, where the paper is pulped with water and bleach before being turned into new products, such as copy paper and paper towels.