You probably already know the importance of securely eliminating confidential documents, but perhaps you wonder if doing so is compatible with being environmentally responsible. Can you be green and have your information protected at the same time?

Are Paper Shredders Eco-Friendly?

Paper shredders can make recycling more manageable, and recycling is beneficial to the environment. Producing new paper has a high cost in environmental factors, including –

• the time for the trees to grow,
• the nutrients the trees consume,
• the labor involved in harvesting and processing them, and
• the fuel, water, chemicals, and other material costs in transporting them and turning them into paper products.

It is significantly more efficient, inexpensive, and eco-friendly to recycle already-produced paper than make new paper.

Another important factor is, of course, the preservation of trees themselves. Paper recycling helps reduce the number of trees that need to be cut down, assisting oxygen production and carbon dioxide reduction. In addition, recycling paper reduces the amount of waste that has to go into landfills, and sustainable paper shredding can help prevent such waste. Indeed, every ton of recycled paper saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space .

Finally, when specifically considering documents that must be disposed of securely, shredding such papers is preferable to burning them. Disposing of records by burning them is environmentally harmful due to the released smoke, which contains carbon monoxide and other toxic gases—and often leaves substantial amounts of confidential information intact.

Can Shredded Paper Be Recycled?

Many municipal areas do not accept shredded paper as part of their recycling programs. While some do allow this—generally requiring that the shredded paper be contained in a paper or plastic bag— many others do not allow it. Many government recycling facilities cannot readily process shredded paper, which consists of smaller pieces than the machines are meant to handle, resulting in clogged-up sorting machinery.

Fortunately, a good commercial shredding company can help. These companies make use of recycling facilities designed to handle shredded paper. Such facilities can take these shreds and efficiently wash them to remove ink, screen press them to remove other contaminants, and transform the resulting pulp into new paper products.

Combining the security advantages of shredding confidential materials with the ecological benefits of green document shredding in such a way is vital to the future of our planet. After all, every ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 4,000 kilowatts of energy, and 7,000 gallons of water .

Storage Quarters Shredding Is Eco-Friendly & Secure

Let the professionals at Storage Quarters process your sensitive documents securely and environmentally consciously. Your personal and financial information will be safe, and we will process your documents quickly and efficiently. We can also help you move toward a paperless office, which will help the environment even more. To get a free quote or book our services, contact Storage Quarters today by calling (516) 794-7300 or emailing info@storagequarters.com to book our mobile shredding truck for a visit your office.