Confidential Waste Guide
Dealing with any type of confidential waste must be done with care to protect the sensitive information it contains until it’s destroyed. Many businesses have all sorts of confidential items they need to get rid of safely – from financial records and employee data to CVs from job applicants and documents with customer information.
To help you understand how to dispose of confidential documents from your organisation responsibly we’ve put together this expert guide. It’s important you get rid of sensitive items effectively to prevent unauthorised access to any information. Sustainable and environmentally friendly disposal is also vital to help protect the planet.
Find out how to get rid of confidential waste and what happens to it with these answers to common questions.
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Contents
How to dispose of confidential waste
To dispose of confidential waste you must separate it from other materials and store it in secure bins or confidential waste bags. Then arrange collection by licensed waste carriers who transport it to waste management facilities for destruction and disposal. Make sure you receive a duty of care and certificate of destruction as proof.
Under the Data Protection Act 2018, all personal data an organisation stores must be kept secure and disposed of correctly to ensure any confidential or personal information is not accessible to others. Businesses face huge fines and even jail time if confidential waste disposal is not implemented correctly.
There are strict regulations on how companies should handle and dispose of confidential paperwork. At Business Waste, our confidential waste services protect you against breaching the Data Protection Act. We provide free bins to store and dispose of your confidential waste with regular collections by licensed waste carriers anywhere in the UK.
What is the best way to dispose of
confidential paper waste?
The best way to dispose of confidential paper waste is by using professional confidential paper disposal services. Business Waste can arrange collection and disposal of confidential waste paper to ensure your sensitive documents are destroyed safely and legally. Follow these steps to dispose of confidential paper waste:
- Check every piece of waste paper you throw away for sensitive or personal information.
- Place any confidential documents in a confidential waste bin to separate them from regular paper recycling.
- Keep your confidential waste paper bin in a secure location, away from public areas, and locked where necessary.
- Arrange collection by professional and licensed waste carriers to remove and destroy your waste.
- Ensure you receive a waste transfer note and certificate of destruction that confirm your documents are disposed of properly.
What laws regulate confidential waste disposal?
UK government legislation regulates the disposal of confidential waste. The Data Protection Act 2018 regulates the process of collecting, processing, storing, and destroying confidential data from organisations. Failing to adhere to its practices may lead to serious consequences, such as heavy fines.
The UK’s data watchdog is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which enforces its rules and regulations. The Data Protection Act stipulates that companies should employ specialised confidential waste disposal services to prevent mismanagement of sensitive data.
There’s also the possibility of fines, loss of reputation and customers, if confidential information is leaked via paperwork that was not destroyed properly. The ICO deals with infringements of the Act and can impose fines of up to £500,000.
Who needs confidential waste disposal?
Many public and private companies generate materials classed as confidential waste due to holding information about finances, employees, customers, and the business. From a small start-up to an international firm, disposing of sensitive documents in a safe and secure way is vital.
Some of the main industries that regularly need to get rid of confidential waste include:
- Social care – children’s care centres, elderly care homes, and youth clubs.
- Legal sector – law firms and solicitors dealing with civil or criminal law.
- Healthcare – hospitals, dental firms, and surgical institutions.
- Offices – finance, marketing, creative, and many other business types.
- Schools – pre-schools, nurseries, private and comprehensive schools.
How much does confidential waste disposal
cost in the UK?
Confidential waste disposal costs vary in the UK. Prices depend on factors such as the volume of waste you produce, the type of materials, the sizes and number of bins or bags you use, and how often you need them collected. Your location in the UK and whether you need confidential waste shredding or not also affects the cost.
The easiest way to find out how much confidential waste will cost your business is to request a free bespoke quote from Business Waste – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.
Where should you dispose
of confidential information?
On-site shredding services provide a convenient way to dispose of confidential documents in your business. Any confidential waste will be processed and shredded on your premises before removal by licensed waste carriers and transportation to a waste management facility for recycling and disposal. Commercial waste collections for off-site shredding are another option.
Many shops sell shredders you can use at home to dispose of confidential personal documents. However, you can’t normally put shredded paper in your domestic recycling bin. Instead, add it to a compost pile for a green disposal method or place any shredded documents in your household general waste bin.
Is confidential waste recycled?
Confidential waste is recycled where possible with Business Waste. Many old sensitive paper documents can be recycled and turned into new paper products. However, shredded confidential documents are harder to recycle in some cases as the pieces are too small for certain sorting machinery used by some recycling facilities.
We aim to transport shredded confidential waste to paper mills where it will be recycled. Unfortunately, sometimes confidential waste is disposed of in landfill and not recycled, which means it has a negative effect on the environment. At Business Waste, we dispose of all confidential waste away from landfill.
How to dispose of shredded paper
To dispose of shredded paper you should put it in confidential waste bins or bags if it contains sensitive information. If it’s just regular shredded paper then you can dispose of it like other paper recycling. However, you should keep shredded paper separate from intact sheets of paper for recycling.
This is because shredded paper isn’t always recyclable. Disposing of it with your normal paper recycling could contaminate the load and reduce the chance of it being recycled. Use separate shredded paper recycling bags or bins for storage and arrange collection by licensed waste carriers who take it to a paper mill or recycling centre for responsible disposal.
How is shredded confidential waste recycled?
Shredded confidential waste made from paper is taken to a paper mill. Here the fibres are separated, screened, and washed to remove ink and contaminants. Water is added and it’s turned into pulp, which is then mixed with fresh pulp to create new recycled paper products, such as paper cups and straws.
Why can’t shredded paper be recycled?
Shredded paper can be recycled at paper mills with the machinery and facilities to process it properly. This involves screening the shredded paper, turning it into pulp, and mixing it with fresh pulp to create new paper products. Shredded paper can’t be recycled by itself into brand-new paper.
Some shredded paper can’t be recycled at some recycling facilities if they don’t have the appropriate machinery. This is because the paper shreds are smaller and lighter than regular sheets of paper so they can fall through the sorting machinery and are hard to separate. Their smaller fibres make recycling trickier and not worth it for some recycling centres.
Can I incinerate confidential documents?
Burning or incinerating confidential documents will destroy them, but the environmental impact is worse than shredding and recycling sensitive waste. Burning paper releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which has a negative environmental effect. The leftover ash may also contain toxic residue, further damaging our planet. Recycling confidential documents so the paper can be reused is a better choice for your business and our world.
How to dispose of
confidential documents at home
Using a shredder is the best way to dispose of confidential documents at home. Shred the items and add them to a compost pile for sustainable disposal – or put them in your household general waste bin. If you don’t have a shredder you can cut them up with scissors or soak them in water and bleach to destroy them.
Get a fast and free quote
Get a fast FREE quote for confidential waste removal
- Free quote within 1 hr
- Any type of confidential waste
- FREE bins and delivery
- We cover all of the UK
Published 21st February 2025 by Graham Matthews.