On-Site vs. Off-Site Shredding: What’s the Difference?
If you have confidential documents ready to be destroyed, you may be wondering whether on-site or off-site shredding is the better option.
Both services provide secure document destruction, but the best choice often depends on how your material is packed, what you are shredding, and whether you want to keep or dispose of your boxes.
At Shred City, we offer both options and can help you choose the service that makes the most sense for your project.
What Is On-Site Shredding?
With on-site shredding, our mobile shredding truck comes directly to your home or business and destroys your documents at your location.
Your material is transferred into our shredding bins, lifted into the truck, and shredded while you are there.
On-site shredding is a great option if:
You have loose paper
Your documents are packed in different-sized boxes or containers
You want to keep your cardboard boxes for future use
You want the option to watch your documents being shredded
You prefer your confidential material to be destroyed before it leaves your property
For on-site service, we empty the paper from your boxes and return the empty cardboard boxes to you. We do not shred or remove the empty cardboard boxes during on-site service.
What Is Off-Site Shredding?
With off-site shredding, our team picks up your documents and securely transports them to our facility for destruction.
This option works especially well when your documents are already packed and ready for an easy pickup.
Off-site shredding is a great option if:
Your documents are packed in clean, easily stackable boxes
Your boxes are not excessively heavy
You want us to take the cardboard boxes with us
You have documents stored in binders
You have X-rays or film that require specialty destruction
If your documents are inside binders, our team can take the binders and sort the material for you at no additional charge.
Off-site service is also available for X-rays and film, although these materials require a different destruction process and are priced separately from standard paper shredding.
Which Option Is More Secure?
Both on-site and off-site shredding are secure options for confidential document destruction.
The main difference is where the shredding takes place.
With on-site shredding, your documents are destroyed at your location. With off-site shredding, your material is securely picked up and transported to our facility for destruction.
Shred City is NAID AAA Certified, and our team follows secure handling procedures throughout the shredding process.
Do I Receive a Certificate of Destruction?
Yes. Whether you choose on-site or off-site shredding, you will receive a Certificate of Destruction after your service.
This provides documentation that your confidential material was securely destroyed by Shred City.
Which Shredding Service Should I Choose?
A simple way to think about it:
Choose on-site shredding if you have loose paper, mixed box sizes, want to keep your boxes, or want to watch your documents being shredded.
Choose off-site shredding if your documents are packed in clean, stackable boxes, you want us to remove the cardboard boxes, you have binders that need to be sorted, or you need specialty destruction for X-rays or film.
Still not sure? Let Shred City help you choose.
Tell us what you have, approximately how much material needs to be destroyed, and how it is currently packed. Our team can recommend the best service for your project and provide a free quote.
Ready to get started? Request a free shredding quote from Shred City today.
