When it comes to shredding documents, the question often arises: What needs to be removed from documents before shredding? Traditionally, office staff would spend valuable time removing staples, paperclips, and other metal fasteners to prevent damage to the shredding machines.
Thankfully, advancements in shredding technology, particularly at Restore Datashred, have made this pre-sorting step largely unnecessary for many common office materials. Modern shredders boast impressive capabilities, often handling small staples, paperclips, and even credit cards without a hitch.
However, it’s important to note that not everything is fair game for your shredder. While technology has come a long way, there are still some materials that can damage your machine or compromise security. To ensure smooth shredding and protect sensitive information, let’s explore what should, and shouldn’t, be removed before shredding your documents.
What doesn’t need to be removed
Restore Datashred’s powerful shredding machines can easily handle:
- Staples
- Paperclips
- Small bulldog clips
This capability significantly streamlines the shredding process, allowing documents to be disposed of more quickly and securely, without the need for tedious manual preparation.


What should be removed
Despite these advancements, it’s still important to remember that you should remove:
- Larger metal objects (beyond small clips and staples)
- Non-paper items unless specified by your shredding provider including metal, food waste, wet paper and contaminated waste
These items can still pose a risk to shredding equipment or contaminate the recycling process.
Why this matters
Simplifying document preparation not only saves time but also ensures a more secure destruction of sensitive information. By allowing small metal items to pass through the shredding process, Restore Datashred ensures that documents are destroyed in a thorough and efficient manner, reducing the risk of confidential information falling into the wrong hands.
For the most effective and secure document shredding process, always check with your provider about their specific capabilities and requirements. Our approach to accepting documents with small metal fasteners reflects our commitment to customer convenience and security.
By understanding what does and doesn’t need to be removed from documents before shredding, businesses can better protect their sensitive data while optimising their document management practices.
A Closer Look at Restore Datashred's Shredding Services
Restore Datashred offers comprehensive shredding solutions designed to protect your sensitive information securely. With options for both on-site and off-site shredding, we cater to the specific needs of businesses looking for secure, efficient document destruction. Our services ensure compliance with data protection laws, providing peace of mind through certificates of destruction. Whether you require a one-time purge or regular scheduled shredding, We tailor our services for maximum convenience and security.
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