Shredding vs. Pulping: The Best Way to Dispose of Confidential Documents

Every office deals with paperwork—contracts, employee records, client details, and financial statements. But when these documents are no longer needed, tossing them in the bin isn’t an option. With data protection laws like POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) in place, businesses must ensure sensitive information is disposed of securely and responsibly. 

The two most common methods? Shredding and pulping. Here’s why pulping is the smarter choice for your office. 

Shredding vs. Pulping: What’s the Difference?

Shredding involves cutting documents into thin strips or small particles using a shredding machine that destroys the paper and de-identifies the information. 

After shredding all material is either taken to a landfill, or pulped and prepared for recycling.

Pulping, on the other hand, similarly breaks documents down into a slurry using water and chemicals, completely destroying any readable text. The resulting pulp is then recycled into new paper products, making it both a secure and sustainable option. 

Pulping offers maximum security by ensuring documents are completely destroyed, eliminating any chance of reconstruction. This makes it the most secure choice for protecting sensitive business and personal information. 

Pulping takes away the shredding costs, and offers the same result in de-identifying information in terms of the POPI Act, and receiving your safe destruction certificate for all documents.

With POPIA compliance in mind, businesses must handle personal data responsibly—even at the disposal stage. Pulping guarantees that confidential information is irreversibly destroyed, keeping your company fully compliant with data protection regulations. 

Pulping is also a cost-effective solution, priced at just R10 per kg. This makes it an affordable yet highly secure method for document destruction. 

Our hassle-free off-site service ensures that your office remains clean and undisturbed. We handle everything securely at our facility, and you don’t have to worry about mess, security risks, or disruption to your workflow. 

Beyond security and convenience, pulping is also the eco-friendly choice. Unlike shredded paper, which occasionally ends up in landfills, pulped paper is recycled into new products, helping your business actively contribute to sustainability efforts. 

Make the Switch to Secure, Affordable Pulping!

Don’t let old documents become a data risk. Choose pulping for safe, compliant, cost-effective and sustainable disposal. We ensure that your paper waste is recycled, and you will be contributing to our goal of zero-waste-landfill.

Always think before you shred. Shredded paper is less likely to be recycled than sheets of paper because the small shreds of paper can get lost in collection and processing. The smaller the paper is, the less likely it is to get recycled. 

Contact us today to find our more about our storage bin option, and to schedule your secure document destruction!