Are there any other fees besides the quoted fee for service?

No, at Southland Shredding we do not believe in charging any add-on fees like fuel surcharges, container-lease fees, or out-of-service fees. The price you are quoted is the price you will pay.

Can we pick any day for service that we want?

No, we arrange our routes to be done as economically as possible, which means we service certain areas on certain days. Our Zip Code Locator will tell you what day we service your area.

What do you mean by 'standard file-size box,' and does our material have to be in boxes?

A standard file-size box measures 12″ x 16″ x 12″, similar to a copy paper box. No, your material does not have to be in boxes. It may be gathered in bags, boxes, plastic containers, laid out on tables, or it may still be in file cabinets.

Do you make appointments?

No, we schedule jobs for certain days in certain cities according to our routes, and we will give you a two-hour window of time so you are not waiting for us all day. With traffic the way it is, we may run ahead or behind; but we will certainly try our best to be within two hours of the scheduled time.

Do you have a minimum charge?

$100 for up to fourteen (14) boxes or two 64-gallon containers worth of material. A job this size will take no more than fifteen minutes of your time. If you have recently done any shredding with a personal shredder, you realize what a deal this is.

Is it ok to leave on fasteners?

Yes, our machinery will tear up all fasteners so there is no need to remove them. During the recycle process, all metal is removed through magnetization and screening.

Are there materials you don't shred?

We don’t shred X-rays or plastic media on-site; but all this material can be shredded off-site.

Why don't you take the cardboard boxes?

Although cardboard is recyclable, the fiber content is different than that of paper; therefore, these materials cannot be mixed and remain recyclable. So, unfortunately, we cannot shred your cardboard box as we do recycle all paper. Mobile shred trucks are not built with storage capacity; thus, we are not able to haul off boxes.

Are you NAID (National Association for Information Destruction) certified?

Yes we are NAID AAA Certified for both on-site and drop off document destruction.

Why do you not publish a price list?

There are too many variables that may affect the price for any given job. Your location and quantity of material are factors in determining our fee. Speak to one of our customer service representatives for pricing information. A relatively accurate box count is required for all quotes.

Do your personnel physically touch our material to be shredded?

No, but they are constantly viewing the material to be sure there are no contaminants going into the shredder. We have found corporate stamps, staplers, pens, and other items that do not need to be shredded and will remove them before they go into the shredder.

Shredding Blog

Why Secure Hard Drive Destruction Matters

Data privacy and security are crucial for both individuals and businesses. As more sensitive information—from personal data to corporate secrets—is stored on hard drives, ensuring these storage devices are securely destroyed is essential. It’s about privacy and a critical measure in preventing data breaches and meeting strict data protection regulations. In this article, we’ll discuss why secure hard drive destruction matters and the importance of implementing proper procedures for disposing of old hard drives.

What Is Hard Drive Destruction?

Secure hard drive destruction is the process of physically destroying a hard drive to prevent it from being accessed and its data from being recovered. This can be achieved through various methods, such as shredding. The main goal of this process is to ensure that the data contained on the hard drive is destroyed and cannot be retrieved by any means.

Importance Of Secure Hard Drive Destruction

Data Protection and Privacy

The most obvious reason why secure hard drive destruction matters is to protect sensitive data and maintain privacy. When a hard drive is simply erased or formatted, the data can still be recovered using specialized software. This puts individuals and businesses at risk of data breaches, identity theft, and financial loss. By physically destroying the hard drive, all data is completely destroyed, eliminating potential threats.

Compliance with Data Protection Regulations

Numerous laws and regulations mandate that companies safeguard personal information and sensitive data. Non-compliance can lead to substantial fines and tarnish a company’s reputation. Implementing secure hard drive destruction is a crucial practice for businesses to adhere to data protection regulations like HIPAA, CCPA, and FACTA and ensure they remain compliant.

Preventing Corporate Espionage

Secure hard drive destruction is also crucial for businesses in preventing corporate espionage. Disposing old hard drives without proper destruction can make sensitive information vulnerable to competitors or malicious actors, leading to significant financial loss and damage to a company’s competitive advantage.

Environmental Responsibility

Proper hard drive destruction also benefits the environment. Electronic waste is a growing concern, and improperly disposing of hardware can harm the environment. By securely destroying hard drives, companies can ensure that their electronic waste is responsibly managed and does not contribute to pollution or other environmental issues.

The Impact Of Improper Hard Drive Destruction

Improper destruction of hard drives carries significant risks that can have far-reaching consequences for individuals and businesses alike. Not adequately destroying hard drives before disposal means sensitive data remains vulnerable to recovery by unauthorized parties. This vulnerability can lead to several adverse outcomes:

Data Breaches

If data on improperly destroyed hard drives is accessed, it could result in significant data breaches, exposing sensitive personal information, financial records, or confidential business strategies.

Identity Theft

Personal information obtained from hard drives can be used to commit identity theft, causing substantial financial and emotional distress to individuals.

Legal And Financial Consequences

Companies that fail to properly destroy data may violate data protection regulations, resulting in hefty fines, legal action, and severe damage to their reputation and trustworthiness.

Competitive Disadvantage

For businesses, the leakage of strategic information, intellectual property, or customer data can give competitors an unfair advantage and potentially undermine a company’s position in the market.

Understanding the dire implications of improper hard drive destruction underscores the importance of adhering to best practices in data disposal. It protects not only data privacy and security but also the environment, legal standing, and competitive integrity.

Hard Drive Destruction Process

The process of securely destroying a hard drive typically involves the following steps:

Collection and Inventory: All old or damaged hard drives should be collected and properly documented to keep track of them.
Transportation: The hard drives are then transported to a secure facility for destruction.
Destruction: The hard drives are shredded to render them completely unreadable.
Certificate of Destruction: A certificate of destruction is provided to verify that the hard drive has been securely destroyed.
Recycling: The remaining materials from the destroyed hard drives are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.

Conclusion

The secure destruction of hard drives is not a task to be taken lightly. It’s essential for protecting sensitive information, complying with legal obligations, and contributing to environmental sustainability. By adopting best practices for hard drive destruction, businesses can ensure they do their part to protect digital and environmental ecosystems. Choose Southland Shredding for secure, reliable, and environmentally responsible hard drive destruction services. Contact us today to learn more!

Southland Shredding is NAID AAA Certified

i-SIGMA is the standards-setting body for the information destruction industry. NAID AAA Certification verifies the qualifications of certified information destruction providers through a comprehensive scheduled and unannounced audit program.

Service is the Difference