June 23, 2025
Safe and Secure Shredding: What Does and Doesn’t Go into a Shred-it® Container
Discarding paper into the recycling bin may seem like an environmentally responsible thing to do, but it’s not always the right thing to do when it comes to data security. Disposing of sensitive documents in the recycling bin can leave them exposed and vulnerable to unauthorized access.
Help protect your business from individuals who seek information to exploit your organization and customers. Businesses should use a secure document destruction service, like Shred-it®. These services provide secure containers that ensure confidential papers are protected until they are shredded into confetti-sized pieces and sent for recycling. But before placing documents into shredding containers, it’s important to know what can – and cannot – go inside.
Dos: What Can Go into Secure Shredding Containers
Sensitive work information printed on any type of paper can generally be disposed of safely in a Shred-it® container. This includes documents containing personally identifiable information (PII) or proprietary information such as company budgets, hiring details, and financial reports.
As a good rule of thumb, if the paperwork involves executive levels and the C-suite, accounting, procurement, human resources, research and development, or sales and marketing content, it should be shredded by putting it into a Shred-it® container. In fact, most paper-based items are safe for Shred-it® containers, so long as they have not come into contact with anything flammable or prohibited by the materials acceptance policy. And don’t worry about separating items that have been stapled or clipped together because small metal items like paper clips can also be thrown in.
However, there's one important caveat – by law and sometimes company policy, some documents must be retained for a period of time before they can be disposed of and destroyed. Always consult your company's document retention policy before disposal.
Don’ts: What Cannot Go into Secure Shredding Containers
Electronics
Electronics cannot go into Shred-it® containers due to a variety of risks. For example, many electronic items use lithium batteries, which are highly flammable. These batteries have become more prevalent in portable devices like laptops and smart phones, many of which are used to store confidential work information. As a result, electronic devices are often thrown in Shred-it® containers in a well-intentioned effort to increase data security.
Unfortunately, when mishandled, these batteries risk overheating, catching fire, or exploding. Combined with paper-based documents in a tamper-proof container, this can result in a dangerous fire hazard or explosion. Reported fires related to discarded electronics at waste and recycling facilities in the U.S. and Canada have risen by 15%, from 373 to 430 incidents.
To combat this, we recommend using specialized services that can dispose of these items properly. Shred-it® offers specialized services to safely dispose of hard drives* and other e-media* such as CDs, floppy disks, and zip disks/drives that have reached their end of life.
Syringes, Glass, Office Supplies, and More
Electronics aren't the only items that can damage a container. Syringes, glass, cans, cardboard tubes, ink cartridges and toners, hanging folders, nuts and bolts, office supplies like hole punchers and staple removers, and even food can all be harmful or damaging when thrown carelessly into a Shred-it® container.
How to Further Protect Your Organization From Data Breaches
To help avoid data breaches, implement a shred-it-all policy, which encourages the regular destruction of all documents. Employees should consider if there are any requirements to retain the document (in accordance with internal policy or other legal requirements) and, if not, immediately and securely dispose of it in a secure shredding container.
Shred-it®’s security containers and totes feature locks and a beveled slot to prevent access to documents. They can handle up to 400 pieces of paper at a time while ensuring inserted documents cannot be retrieved. The containers also offer a range of lock systems for added security and peace of mind. As an added benefit, they are made from recycled wood materials compliant with the Environmentally Preferred Product Certification (EPP).
Learn more about how Shred-it®’s security containers and document destruction services can help protect confidential information from falling into the wrong hands.
*Contact Shred-it® for service availability.
**This article is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances.