Why Your UPS Paper Shredding Isn’t Really Shredding Your Documents

If you’ve ever walked into a UPS Store with a box of old bank statements, tax returns, or medical records, you might have been comforted by the promise of “secure document shredding.” The word shredding sounds final and complete, but your sensitive information will not be completely destroyed at the UPS Store.

But here’s the truth: most UPS Stores don’t actually shred your documents on-site.

What Truly Happens with UPS Paper Shredding

When you drop off papers for shredding, the store doesn’t feed them into a shredder in the back room. UPS has a big bin behind their counter and the bin is not a paper shredder.

Instead, your documents are placed into a locked bin provided by an outside third party shredding company, often a large mega corporation.

Those bins are stored in the store until the shredding company’s truck comes by,

which could be days, weeks or even months later.

Your documents remain whole and intact during that time. While the bins are usually locked, those vital documents remain whole and untouched. You have no idea who could access them or what they might do once they obtain your vital documents.

Why Proper Document Destruction Matters?

Delay in destruction: Your documents aren’t shredded immediately, so there’s a

window of time where they still exist and could be compromised.

No witnessed shredding: If you need proof of destruction for compliance or

take comfort in knowing that your documents were destroyed then UPS will prove difficult.

Chain-of-custody concerns: Once the papers leave the UPS Store, they

usually travel to an off-site facility for paper shredding. That’s more hands, more steps,

and more opportunity for exposure.

Cost considerations: These types of locations-UPS Store, Staples, OfficeMax are usually more expensive charging $1.20+ per pound without doing any of the actual paper shredding.

Better Document Destruction and Paper Shredding Alternatives:

Use a locally owned, NAID AAA Certified shredding company like Elevated Shredding for secure, professional and friendly shredding service, usually at a fraction of the cost.

Attend community shredding events: Elevated Shredding participates in many community shred events throughout Northern Arizona.

The bottom line: While UPS Stores can be convenient for dropping off documents for eventual destruction, they don’t actually shred them in-house.

If security, speed, or verification is important to you, you’ll want to choose a service provider like Elevated Shredding where you are guaranteed and can witness the secure document destruction.

What Cannot Be Shredded At UPS

UPS policies specify items that are not accepted for shredding, such as cardboard, telephone books, hardcover books, CDs & DVDs, three-ring binders, lever-arch binders, hanging folders, transparencies, and large bulldog clips.

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FAQ: UPS Store Document Shredding

Q: Does the UPS Store shred my papers/documents right away?

A: No. Your papers are placed into a locked bin and held until a third-party shredding

company picks them up, which can take days, weeks or even months.

Q: Is it safe to leave documents in those bins?

A: The bins are locked, but they still contain your complete, readable, un-shredded documents until they are picked up and taken to an off-site facility.

Q: Can I watch my documents being shredded at the UPS Store?

A: No. Paper shredding happens off-site at a third parties shredding's facility, so you never witness the paper destruction in person. The UPS Store is not a shredding company.

Q: Who actually does the shredding?

A: UPS Stores usually do not partner with locally owned companies but instead contract with large corporations. The shredding is completed at a separate location, usually located many miles away.

Q: What if I need a certificate of destruction?

A: Some UPS Stores can arrange for one through the third party shredding corporation, but it usually isn’t so simple. If you need a Certificate of Destruction for policy or legal ramifications, you should partner with a company that actually does secure shredding, that you can witness in live time.

Q: What’s the most secure shredding method?

A: Shredding your documents on-site, with a NAID AAA Certified shred company like

Elevated Shredding where you have an option to witness the destruction and receive a

Certificate of Destruction, provides the highest level of security.

If you have any questions please visit us at https://www.elevatedshredding.com/

Email at info@elevatedshredding.com

or Call (928) 522-9226