Shredded Paper Recycling
Shredded confidential documents, paper records and other clean shredded paper can be collected for recycling through Business Waste. We provide suitable bins or bags and arrange daily, weekly or fortnightly collections across the UK.
If your documents still contain readable confidential information, we can also arrange a confidential shredding service before the paper is recycled. On-site and off-site shredding options are available through our secure destruction service, with a Certificate of Destruction provided for shredding carried out.
Tell us whether your paper is already shredded or still needs secure destruction, how much you have and how often it builds up. We’ll confirm the right storage and collection route. If you require a one-off shredded paper collection, we can arrange this also.
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Get a fast FREE quote for shredded paper recycling
- Free quote within 1 hour
- Shredded paper assessed
- FREE bins and delivery
- Nationwide UK coverage
What shredded paper can we collect?
We can handle many types of shredded paper, including:
- Shredded customer or client records
- Employee records
- Financial paperwork
- Contracts and business documents
- Medical or care records once securely shredded
- Shredded office paper
- Shredded archive records
- Other clean shredded paper suitable for the recycling route
Ensure plastics, laminated material, electronic media and other non-paper confidential waste are kept out of the shredded paper stream unless this has been agreed upon with your collection handlers.
How our shredded paper collection service works
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Already shredded paper
If your business already shreds documents, store the shredded paper in the agreed bin, sack or container and arrange collection for recycling.
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Documents that still need shredding
If records still contain readable confidential information, arrange a confidential shredding service instead. Documents can be collected for secure off-site shredding or destroyed on site where that service is available.
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Choose the collection schedule
Daily, weekly or fortnightly collections are available depending on your volumes, location and storage setup.
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Paper is recycled
Shredded paper is transferred to an appropriate paper recycling facility.
Shredded paper disposal
Businesses must comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) when disposing of any confidential data. This includes to dispose of shredded paper that contains sensitive information. Data shredding is an efficient way to destroy confidential documents to protect your organisation and those whose information it contains.
UK data protection law does not prescribe one specific destruction method, but businesses must prevent personal information from being recovered or accessed by unauthorised people. The ICO identifies secure shredding as one appropriate method.
If documents have already been securely shredded, we can arrange their collection for recycling. Documents that remain readable should be secured in confidential waste storage until they are destroyed through an appropriate shredding service.
Recycling is the main method to dispose of shredded paper. It’s not as simple as recycling regular paper (like full sheets, paper envelopes, and leaflets). If your business shreds confidential documents on site then you must recycle and dispose of shredded paper separately from other waste paper.
Shredding paper weakens and shortens the fibres, which makes turning it into good-quality pulp to create recycled paper products harder. As the shredded paper is smaller than complete sheets it may also fall through the screens recycling centres use and get trapped in the machinery. It can stop recycling machinery from working and cause a fire hazard.
Another shredded paper disposal method is composting. It must be cleaned of any ink, chemicals, and contaminants but then can be safely added to compost piles. The shorter fibres speed up decomposition and it offers a source of carbon that boosts the carbon-to-nitro balance.
Commercial collection of shredded paper
Arrange collection of any type and amount of shredded paper from your business anywhere in the UK. Daily, weekly, and fortnightly collections are possible to provide regular removal and recycling of your shredded paper. Licensed waste carriers can pick it up at a convenient date and time.
Split up shredded paper from other waste materials and store it in appropriate bins, bags, or containers. Adhere to any weight limits or max fill lines and place the containers at an agreed accessible pickup point ahead of the collection time. They’ll be removed and transported to a nearby waste management facility for recycling.
Businesses with their own shredders can arrange collection of shredded paper, while others can book collection of confidential documents for shredding. You can then decide if you want the shredding to happen on or off-site. Either way, the papers will be shredded and then recycled safely, legally, and responsibly.
How is shredded paper recycled?
Shredded paper is recycled similarly to regular paper products. First, all the fibres must be separated to ensure it’s all of a similar grade and quality so it can be turned into new paper products. Then the general process for recycling shredded paper is:
- Paper is shredded on-site or collected and taken off-site for shredding.
- The shredded paper is compressed into bales, which are transported by licensed waste carriers to a recycling centre that has machinery suitable for processing shredded paper.
- These bales of paper shredding are mixed with water. This turns them into a pulp.
- Any debris is removed from the pulp as it’s forced through a screen that filters out the likes of glue and plastic. It may be spun to remove any remaining debris and then placed in a chemical solution to remove any ink.
- It’s mixed with virgin pulp to improve the quality of the new paper before being dried out on wire screens and passed through heated rollers.
- When recycled into toilet paper and tissues, these new sheets of paper are run under an embosser, which makes them more absorbent.
- The pulp is finally turned into recycled low-graded paper products such as toilet paper and soft tissues.
If you produce enough paper waste to warrant a baler then you might be eligible for waste paper rebates
Which businesses use confidential shredding services?
Many business sectors require confidential waste shredding for a number of different reasons. We work with organisations such as:
- Offices and professional services: personnel files, contracts and customer records
- Healthcare: patient and administrative records
- Financial businesses: customer, account and transaction records
- Schools: pupil and employee records
- Retailers: customer, payment and employee paperwork
- Legal firms: case files and client documents
Recycle shredded paper with Business Waste
Arrange the removal of any type and volume of shredded paper for recycling from your business in the UK. Book collection of your sensitive items, whether you need to get rid of a few documents or require bulk shredding for lots of records. We offer disposal services for confidential paper waste that needs shredding or is already shredded.
There are options for both on-site and off-site secure paper shredding where required. We can deliver free bins, bags, and containers to store your paper pre- and post-shred – you just cover the collection costs. There are no rental or delivery fees.
Our licensed waste carriers will remove your shredded paper at an agreed time and transport it to a recycling centre. You’ll receive a free duty of care certificate and free certificate of destruction for peace of mind that it’s disposed of securely and responsibly away from landfill.
Get a free quote for secure paper shredding tailored to your exact needs today – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.
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Free bins -
Certificate of destruction
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Free quote
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Paper recycling
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1 month’s free collection
Paper shredding FAQs
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Can you recycle shredded paper in the UK?
Shredded paper can be recycled, but not every paper recycling facility accepts it because the pieces and fibres are smaller than whole sheets. Business Waste arranges commercial shredded paper collections and confirms the appropriate recycling route for the material.
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What can I do with shredded paper at home?
Check if you can put shredded paper in your household recycling bin, as some local councils and authorities can recycle it. If not, there are a few other things you can do with shredded paper at home to avoid putting it in your general waste bin and it ending up in a landfill:
- Take your shredded paper to a paper bank that will recycle it
- Add it to a compost pile in the garden (but not any glossy or coloured paper)
- Use it as animal bedding for small pets, such as hamsters and guinea pigs
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How can I reduce shredded paper waste?
Minimise the amount of shredded paper your business creates by only shredding paper documents containing sensitive information. Send leaflets, envelopes, and other paper for recycling. Even with confidential documents, if the only sensitive data is an address or name, see if you can remove it without having to shred the entire paper.
The other main way to reduce how much shredded paper your organisation creates is to make as much confidential data as possible digital. This eliminates the need for as much paper and avoids physical documents getting lost or falling into the wrong hands.
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Who needs confidential paper shredding?
All organisations hold some level of sensitive information about employees, customers, patients, and other businesses. Many of these are paper documents that need to be destroyed at some point. Some common organisations that need confidential paper shredding include:
- Offices – an office shredding service is common for all industries, including marketing, legal, and other firms.
- Hospitals – healthcare and medical records contain incredibly sensitive information that needs to be destroyed safely.
- Banks – financial documents from customers may need shredding eventually.
- Schools – documents containing information about pupils, teachers, and other staff must be disposed of carefully.
- Shops – paper documents including customer details, financial records, and other information may need destroying at some point.
Get a fast and free quote
Get a fast FREE quote for secure paper shredding
- Free quote within 1 hr
- Any type of confidential waste
- FREE bins and delivery
- We cover all of the UK
Published 31st January 2023 by Mark Hall. Last modified 17th September 2026