Every business handles confidential data, from payslips and invoices to customer records. But when that information is no longer needed, how you dispose of it really matters. Getting it wrong can mean data breaches, fines, and unnecessary waste.
The best solution is GDPR-led confidential shredding. It’s the simplest way to stay compliant with UK data protection laws while keeping your environmental impact low. By securely destroying old files and recycling the shredded paper, you protect both your business and the planet.
At First Mile, we make secure document shredding simple, sustainable, and fully compliant. Our certified service helps you stay GDPR compliant, prove every collection, and achieve zero waste to landfill, with easy online ordering and nationwide coverage.
What does GDPR-led confidential shredding actually mean?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires every business to handle personal information safely and destroy it securely when it’s no longer needed. That means more than simply throwing papers in the recycling bin or using a small office shredder.
GDPR-led confidential shredding is the secure destruction of documents and data that contain personal or sensitive information. It ensures your confidential waste is destroyed in line with legal standards and with full traceability from collection to recycling.
Ordinary recycling or basic shredders aren’t enough. They:
- Don’t provide an audit trail
- Can’t guarantee data is fully destroyed
- Risk documents being reconstructed
A GDPR compliant shredding service follows the BS EN 15713 standard, which covers secure collection, transport, and destruction of confidential materials. Each collection ends with a Certificate of Destruction and a detailed audit trail to prove compliance.
Quick definition:
GDPR-led confidential shredding means your confidential waste is destroyed securely, legally, and sustainably, with full traceability from start to finish.
Why GDPR compliance matters in confidential waste disposal
When confidential information isn’t disposed of properly, it can quickly become a serious risk for your business. Under GDPR, failing to handle personal data securely can lead to:
- Fines of up to £17.5 million or 4% of annual turnover from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
- Data breaches that expose customer, employee, or financial information
- Reputational damage that’s hard to repair
Real examples include:
- HR files or payslips left in bins
- Printed medical forms discarded with general waste
- Client data leaked through insecure recycling
Disposal is the final step of GDPR compliance. Even if data is handled properly while in use, it must be securely destroyed when no longer needed. Using a certified confidential data destruction service eliminates risk and ensures every stage is fully documented.
At First Mile, compliance is built into every collection:
- Accredited to BS EN 15713
- DBS-checked teams
- CCTV-tracked vehicles
- 24-hour shredding turnaround for complete peace of mind
Why is confidential shredding essential under GDPR?
Because it protects personal data, proves compliance, and shows your business takes information security seriously.
What counts as confidential waste under GDPR
Confidential waste includes anything that contains personal or sensitive information. Under GDPR, this applies to both paper and digital data. If it identifies a person, it must be destroyed securely.
Common examples of confidential waste include:
- HR records, payslips, and staff contracts
- Client details, quotes, and ID copies
- Financial documents such as invoices or bank statements
- Medical or patient information
- Legal case files and compliance documents
- Hard drives, USB sticks, CDs, and other digital storage devices
GDPR applies to all these formats because they can all reveal personal data. Throwing them in general waste or standard recycling can result in a data protection compliance breach.
Using a professional confidential waste disposal service ensures every item is securely collected, destroyed and recycled with full traceability and proof of compliance.
In-house vs outsourced shredding – which is safer?
Many businesses rely on office shredders, but they’re not always enough to keep data safe. While they may seem convenient, they often fall short of GDPR standards.
In-house shredding:
- Limited security levels
- No formal proof of destruction
- Time-consuming for staff
- Shredded material often goes to general waste rather than recycling
Outsourced shredding with a certified provider:
- Full traceability and compliance documentation
- Secure collection and transport
- Verified confidential waste disposal that meets BS EN 15713
- Materials recycled responsibly, helping your business stay sustainable
GDPR requires you to demonstrate compliance. Without an audit trail or certificate of destruction, in-house shredding leaves you exposed to risk.
By outsourcing to First Mile, you gain a complete secure waste management service with:
- Chain of custody from collection to destruction
- Cost-efficient pricing
- Less admin and more time for your team
In short, outsourcing offers stronger security, better sustainability and clearer compliance records.
How GDPR-compliant shredding works with First Mile
Staying compliant doesn’t have to be complicated. First Mile makes GDPR-compliant shredding easy, secure, and sustainable from start to finish. Here’s how it works:
- Order online
- Choose packs of shredding sacks online, with no contracts or minimum orders.
- Perfect for one-off clear-outs or regular collections.
- Fill and scan
- Load your confidential documents into the sacks.
- Scan the unique QR code for full traceability and tracking.
- Book collection
- Select a time that suits you.
- Our DBS-checked collection teams handle everything securely.
- Shred within 24 hours
- Materials are taken by CCTV-tracked vehicles to our secure facility.
- Documents are shredded within 24 hours for complete peace of mind.
- Certificate of Destruction
- You’ll receive a digital certificate confirming that all confidential data has been securely destroyed.
- This provides a clear audit trail for your compliance records.
- Recycle responsibly
- Shredded paper is recycled into new products.
- Nothing goes to landfill.
Our secure facilities run on 100% renewable energy and follow BS EN 15713 standards. For IT equipment, we offer Blancco data wiping, which permanently erases digital files for total data protection.
Everything is tracked through a documented chain of custody, giving you full visibility from collection to recycling.
Sustainable shredding and recycling
Secure data destruction doesn’t have to come at the cost of the environment. With First Mile, your sustainable shredding service supports both GDPR compliance and your business’s green goals.
Here’s how it works:
- Recycling: Every piece of shredded paper is recycled into new products such as packaging or tissue paper. This helps with recycling confidential documents responsibly and reducing waste.
- Renewable energy: Our shredding and recycling facilities are powered by 100% renewable electricity.
- Zero waste to landfill: Nothing from the shredding process ends up in landfill, helping you cut your carbon footprint.
- B Corp certified: This independent certification proves our commitment to verified social and environmental impact.
- Electronics recycling: Metal, plastic, and rubber from IT equipment are separated and recycled responsibly after confidential data destruction.
Your business can also include these results in ESG or CSR reporting, showing measurable sustainability action alongside strong data protection practices.
Can shredded paper still pose a data breach risk?
No. Once shredded, the paper is reduced to fragments that can’t be reconstructed, then recycled securely.
Integrating secure document shredding into your wider recycling strategy means you protect data and the planet at the same time.
How to choose a GDPR-compliant shredding provider
Not all shredding services are created equal. To stay fully compliant and protect your business, choose a provider that meets strict security and sustainability standards.
Your GDPR-compliant shredding checklist:
- Holds BS EN 15713 accreditation for secure destruction
- Provides a Certificate of Destruction after every collection
- Uses CCTV-tracked vehicles and DBS-checked teams
- Operates on renewable energy
- Guarantees zero waste to landfill
- Offers transparent pricing with no hidden fees
These features prove your GDPR document disposal process is safe, legal, and environmentally responsible.
How First Mile meets every standard:
- Accredited to BS EN 15713
- B Corp certified for verified ethical impact
- Nationwide collections with local service
- 24-hour shredding turnaround
- Flexible, no-contract ordering
- Full compliance documentation provided
Switching from a generic waste provider is simple. With First Mile, you can order online in minutes and start protecting confidential data straight away.
The First Mile difference
Choosing First Mile means choosing a partner that makes secure document shredding simple, compliant, and sustainable. We combine data protection expertise with industry-leading environmental standards to give you total peace of mind.
What sets us apart:
- No contracts or minimum orders
- Nationwide coverage with reliable local service
- 24-hour shredding and recycling turnaround
- 24/7 customer support when you need it
- B Corp certified for verified social and environmental impact
- Trusted by more than 30,000 UK businesses
Every collection supports your GDPR compliance, provides a full audit trail, and ensures confidential data destruction that's zero waste to landfill.
With First Mile, you get a shredding partner that’s secure, simple, and sustainable — helping your business stay compliant and protect the planet at the same time.
Protect your business and the planet
Secure data destruction isn’t just a legal requirement, it’s a smart business move. With GDPR-led confidential shredding, you protect sensitive information, stay compliant with data protection laws, and support your sustainability goals.
First Mile makes it easy. Our secure waste management services provide full traceability, certified compliance, and zero waste to landfill. From paper files to IT equipment, everything is handled safely, responsibly, and sustainably.
Protect your business and the planet today. Order GDPR-compliant confidential shredding sacks from First Mile and enjoy secure, certified data destruction that’s good for your business and the environment.
FAQs
What is GDPR-compliant shredding?
It’s the secure destruction of confidential data in line with the UK GDPR and BS EN 15713 standards. This ensures all personal information is collected, transported, and destroyed safely, with full traceability and proof of compliance.
How do I prove GDPR compliance?
Keep your Certificate of Destruction and audit logs as evidence. These documents show that your confidential waste was securely processed and meet your legal data protection requirements.
Can shredded paper be recycled safely?
Yes. All shredded material is rendered completely unreadable before being recycled into new paper products. This process supports sustainable shredding and helps your business reduce waste.
Is in-house shredding enough?
Usually not. Office shredders can’t guarantee traceability, certification, or proper recycling. A certified provider ensures secure document shredding that fully complies with GDPR.
How can small businesses manage GDPR shredding affordably?
First Mile offers flexible, pay-as-you-go sack collections with no contracts or minimum orders. You only pay for what you need, making confidential waste disposal simple and cost-effective.
