Why Should I Shred?

Shredding is hands-down the most certain way to protect your company, your employees and your clients from the exposure of identity theft and corporate espionage. It also drastically improves your ability to comply with the numerous laws and regulations covering information security. Throwing away confidential information without first destroying it is illegal. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (financial), HIPAA (medical), and FACTA (consumer) mandate proper destruction of discarded information.

WHAT SHOULD I SHRED?

Typically, any documents containing personal information on a customer or employee, as well as company proprietary information, should be shredded. While not all-inclusive, the following lists include the types of documents that should be shredded:


  • Banking Information
  • Company and Personal Checks
  • Credit Card Receipts
  • Contracts
  • Loan Information
  • Payroll Information
  • Medical Records
  • Insurance Information
  • Employee Data
  • Tax Records
  • Invoices
  • Company Proprietary Information
  • Internal Office Memos

Plus, all documents of any type that list:


  • Customer and Employee Names
  • Physical Addresses
  • Email Addresses
  • Birthdates
  • Social Security Numbers
  • Driver License Numbers
  • Logins and Passwords
What Type of Shredding Process Does File Thirteen Use?

File Thirteen uses a Hammermill and Pierce-and-Tear shredding system. This system tears the paper at the fiber instead of cutting it, which results in a random and more secure shred size than standard shredders.

Can I Watch My Paper Being Shredded So I Know It's Done Properly?

All of File Thirteen's mobile destruction trucks have a viewing area with a window or video system, so you can watch our secure shredding process from start to finish. For on-site shredding, we will provide you with a certificate of destruction for every service.

Do I have to remove staples, paperclips, or binder clips?

No, you do not have to remove staples, paperclips, or binder clips from your paper before shredding. We can also shred the metal tabs on file folders.

What does File Thirteen do with the shredded paper?

File Thirteen recycles all the paper shredded, and then transports the shredded paper to their own recycling facility where it is baled and sent to a pulper to make new paper products.

Are your employees screened?

File Thirteen is committed to conducting rigorous background checks on all of our employees. You can rest assured knowing that only the most qualified people have access to your company’s most critical documents.

What types of service plans do you offer?

Whether you have business or residential shredding needs, no two jobs are alike. That’s why File Thirteen will customize a service plan specifically for you. We have clients with service schedules ranging from daily to yearly. No job is too big or too small! We can also service companies with multiple locations across the country. And if you ever have an emergency need, we can schedule extra service any time you generate more paper than expected. We can also drop off additional storage containers or change the frequency of your service schedule.

Can you shred non-paper items?

Yes, we provide non-paper, product destruction services. Some of the items we can destroy include:

  • Uniforms
  • Gift Cards
  • Recalled Products
  • Computer Hard Drives
  • CDs, DVDs and Videotapes
  • Computer Backup Tapes

Do you supply secure paper containers?

Yes, we provide lockable, free-standing, executive security consoles. The consoles have a narrow slot along the top where employees simply drop documents into it. They remain locked and can only be accessed by a File Thirteen employee with a key. The standard consoles hold a capacity of approximately 60 pounds of paper and the larger 64 gallon bins hold up to approximately 225 pounds of paper.