You’ve probably heard by now that it’s a good idea to shred any expired papers or documents so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands.
However, if you have a large volume of paper to shred, you might be wondering if doing so will have a negative effect on the environment.
For example, what happens to the paper after it has been destroyed?
This is exactly what we’ll be taking a look at in this post.
So, is paper shredding bad for the environment?
The answer to this question really depends on the individual shredding company and the processes they have in place for the disposal of paper after it has been shredded.
For example, if the company just bags up their paper shreddings and takes it directly to a landfill, obviously there might be some detrimental effects on the environment.
Ink might leach out and find its way to the water tables.
Not only that, but this paper can also no longer be recycled and used to create new paper products.
So, in that sense, paper shredding can be bad for the environment.
However, if the shredding company has proper environmental measures in place, shredding your outdated documents can be one of the most eco-friendly practices out there!
For example, a good shredding company will have the following environmental measures in place:
Environmentally Friendly Fleet
Often it’s not the shredding process that can be most harmful to the environment, it’s how the paper is actually transported.
For example, in-efficient trucks can significantly increase the amount of emissions that are released into the air. Also, not taking the time to map out the most efficient routes can also play a huge role in environmental degradation.
Fortunately, many paper shredding companies make sure to equip their trucks with GPS tracking and analytic products. At Western Archives, we even have a company-wide idle policy and ensure our trucks use only Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel!
Green Shredding Equipment
The equipment used to actually shred the paper comes into play as well. For example, all consoles should comply with LEED and CARB II regulations and bins should be fully recyclable.
Recycling Policy
And finally, there needs to be a recycling policy in place after the paper has been shredded. Every tree saved by recycling has the potential to reduce more than 22 gallons of oil and as much as 3.7 pounds of air pollution!
Many new paper products can be created from paper shreddings, including:
- Office paper
- Napkins
- Tissue paper
- Cardboard
- Cards
- More!
Western Archives – Environmentally Paper Shredding in Edmonton
Western Archives has been helping clients shred their paper in an environmentally-friendly manner for years. Their practices comply with all industry standards and they’re always striving to implement “green” practices within their business.
Contact them today to learn more!