Why should you buy a paper shredder?

Whether you want to dispose of personal documents at home or client information, data protection is one of the primary motivations for buying a shredder. Many people assume that GDPR only relates to electronic data, but this is not the case. GDPR rules also apply to paper-based data so it is important that organisations handle EU-originated personal data carefully.

Whether you are a business or consumer, our buying guide will help you choose the correct paper shredder to ensure you’re protected against identity theft and other fraudulent activity that can be carried out if your sensitive data gets into the wrong hands.

Paper shredders can:

• Protect your personal and business confidential data
• Protect the data of your customers and clients
• Help you avoid fines and legal action due to non-compliance with GDPR legislation
• Help you evade a data breach which could result in bad PR and reputation damage

What can you shred?

Whilst many assume that shredders only shred paper, many models can take on stapled and paperclipped documents, as well as CDs, cards and floppy discs.

DVDs/CDs	Paperclipped documents	Stapled documents	Floppy Discs

Should I purchase a manual or auto feed shredder?

Opting for an auto feed or manual shredder will depend on a number of factors, including how quickly you want your shredding completed and whether you would prefer to be more hands-on. Generally speaking, the higher sheet capacity shredders allow for quicker shredding, but read the information below to ensure you make the correct choice.

Manual feed shredders

Whilst manual feed shredders require human intervention to feed documents into the machines, they can still shred a high volume of sheets in one go.  Manual feed shredders also use anti-jam technology to ensure seamless uninterrupted shredding when coupled with long run times.

Anti-jam - Automatically stops and reverses when too much paper is inserted

Intelligent Jam Prevention - Continuously checks and indicates if too much paper is being fed into the shredder

Auto Reverse - Responds automatically to a jam in the auto feed chamber

Auto Feed shredders

Shredders that offer auto feed shredding allow stacks of paper to be shred in one go, rather than having to be fed in individually. We call this ‘hands free’ shredding, meaning you can load a stack of paper and walk away. Our auto feed paper shredders offer a 98% time saving over manual feed models and, over a period of time, generate real productivity savings.

What level of security do I need from a shredder?

Before considering cut type, you should carefully consider what level of security you would like from a shredder. All paper shredders are categorised by their security level which is shown as a P-rating; this refers to the number of pieces a document is shredded into. The higher the P-rating the more pieces a document is shredded into and the higher the level of security it provides.

How big does the shredder bin need to be?

Pick a shredder bin size based upon sheets stored in the bin rather than bin size alone. Note that the higher the security level means a smaller cut size and increased bin capacity

See our guide below for sheet capacity depending on the number of users:

How easy is it to maintain a paper shredder?

Just like any device with a motor, paper shredders require care and maintenance. An easy way to prolong the life of your shredder is to shred a shredder oiling sheet. These preserve the shredder’s motor and cutter blades.

If the shredder you purchase is for office use, some that serve larger numbers feature automatic self-oiling. This means there is no need to feed in a shredder oiling sheet; the shredder will take a drop or two of oil when needed from an oil refill bottle.