Destroying business files when you no longer require them is an important aspect of document control and security. Commercial paper shredding companies allow you to dispose your paper waste in a compliant, safe and cost-effective way. They enable you to properly discard your files and documents without needing to own and operate a paper shredder. By regularly destroying unnecessary documents, you not only reduce the cost of storage and management of them, but you also protect your business from data breaches, fraud and identity theft. Moreover, commercial paper shredding companies have experience dealing with confidential documents – which will only make your life easier.
When it comes to determining the cost of shredding paper, the biggest factor is the pricing structure employed by the commercial shredding service providers you hire. In addition to that, a number of other factors, including location, volume, quantity, frequency, and service preference need to be taken into consideration.
Pricing Structures:
Although there are multiple different pricing structures, the 2 broadly used models that shredding services provide are:
Per pound price
The national average for shredding a pound of paper is $1. Hence, this pricing structure is suitable when the volume of paper that needs to be shredded is very little. Many retail chains provide this option – where you bring in the files that need to be shredded, they weigh it and charge you accordingly.
This can, however, get expensive depending on the amount of paper you need to shred. Since a bankers box can hold up to 30 pounds of paper, it would cost you $30 to shred it all on a per-pound basis. In such cases, it is better to opt for a per-box pricing structure.
Per box price
Many local shredders and commercial shredding companies offer a per-box price for their services. The standard box used for such purposes is a bankers box, which can hold up to 30 pounds of paper (100 sheets of A4 size = 1 pound). This service is suitable when you have more than a mere few pounds of paper to shred. The average for this pricing structure ranges from $12-$25
In addition to the pricing structure, there are multiple other factors that need to be considered when determining the cost of shredding.
Service Preference:
Shredding companies generally provide more than one Shredding companies generally provide more than one mode of delivery of their service. Although the 2 main types of services are on-site and off-site, there are a few others that some service providers offer as well. This could include drop off shredding, etc.
On-Site Shredding
This method is also called mobile shredding. The process involves shredding the documents at the pickup location in a truck that is equipped with an industrial shredder. This allows you to watch your documents be shredded before the truck drives away. On average, it costs around $75-$250/service and it would require you to have a minimum number of bankers boxes to avail this service.
Off-Site Shredding
Off-Site shredding involves your service provider arriving at your location, picking up your documents and taking them back to their facility where the documents will then be securely shredded. This type of shredding is a lot less expensive than the former, although some service providers might have a minimum volume requirement to facilitate the pickup.
Other cost factors to consider:
Volume:
Regardless of the pricing structure that the service provider follows, the volume of documents determines the cost of destruction. Hence, before determining what service would best fit you, it needs to be determined how much paper you need to shred.
If you have only a few pounds that you need to get rid of, opting for a per-pound pricing structure and a drop-off service would be optimal.
Location:
Service providers generally have a radius they cover, outside of which they are likely to add on some charges to your quote. This is why your proximity to them is crucial in determining a quote. It is likely that the farther you are from their premises, the more you will have to pay.
Additional Charges:
Some service providers also add on additional charges, which can range from 3 – 15%, such as a fuel surcharge and a recycling recovery surcharge; most are adjusted monthly. Hence, the simplest way to get an accurate quote is to contact your service provider.
At We-Cycle, our aim was to build a service that is accessible and affordable, with a no-frills pricing structure. This is why our prices are nearly 1/4th the industry average – at less than $5/box! Our retail stores are optimally located to serve you in the best possible way. Being a part of We-Cycle does not only protect your identity, but it also helps you contribute towards making a difference in the local community.