Shredded Paper Recycling
Recycling shredded paper is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to get rid of confidential documents safely. Items that contain sensitive data about employees, customers, or clients require secure destruction, often via shredding. Many organisations also create non-confidential shredded paper waste that should be recycled too.
Shredded paper is recyclable, but it must be kept separate from other types of paper waste. Its shorter fibres mean it must go through slightly different processes to recycle shredded paper properly. At Business Waste, we provide free bins to store shredded paper – you only pay for collection.
Recycle shredded paper from your business anywhere in the UK. This offers a secure and environmentally friendly option to get rid of your confidential documents. Find out more and get a free no-obligation quote for shredded paper recycling from your business today – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.
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Get a fast FREE quote for shredded paper recycling
- Free quote within 1 hr
- Any type of shredded paper
- FREE bins and delivery
- We cover all of the UK
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.
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.
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 -
Paper recycling -
1 month’s free collection
Paper shredding FAQs
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Can you recycle shredded paper in the UK?
You can recycle shredded paper in the UK, but not all recycling centres accept it. Some paper mills can’t process shredded paper due to its shorter fibres and smaller size. Use a professional waste collection service like Business Waste to ensure your shredded paper goes to a paper mill or recycling centre for recycling.
You can recycle shredded paper from home in the UK but do some research, so it doesn’t go to landfill. Check if your local council allows shredded paper in your household recycling bin or whether your local household waste recycling centre accepts shredded paper for recycling.
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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 Graham Matthews. Last modified 24th February 2025