Onsite vs Offsite Shredding: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Choosing the Right Shredding Method

Both onsite and offsite shredding are secure options when conducted by certified providers. The right choice depends on your specific needs, document volumes, and security requirements.

Onsite (Mobile) Shredding

How It Works:

• Industrial shredding truck arrives at your location
• Documents shredded in the truck using commercial-grade equipment
• You can witness the destruction process
• Certificate issued immediately on completion

Best For:

• Organisations requiring visual verification
• One-off purges and cleanouts
• Highly sensitive materials
• Situations where documents cannot leave premises

Advantages:

• Complete chain of custody visibility
• Immediate destruction
• No transport of documents required
• Witnessing option for extra assurance

Considerations:

• Slightly higher cost per box
• Scheduling required
• Weather can affect outdoor operations

Offsite (Facility-Based) Shredding

How It Works:

• Documents collected in locked, tamper-evident containers
• Transported to secure facility
• Shredded using industrial equipment
• Certificate issued after destruction

Best For:

• Regular scheduled collections
• High-volume ongoing requirements
• Budget-conscious organisations
• Premises with limited truck access

Advantages:

• Lower per-box cost at high volumes
• Flexible collection scheduling
• No parking or access requirements for large vehicles
• Suitable for all weather conditions

Considerations:

• Documents leave your premises
• Slight delay before destruction
• No witnessing option

Security Comparison

Both methods offer equivalent security when using a NAID certified provider:

Factor	Onsite	Offsite
Chain of Custody	Visible	Documented
Destruction Speed	Immediate	Within 24 hours
Witnessing	Yes	No
GPS Tracking	Yes	Yes
Certificate	Immediate	Post-destruction

Cost Comparison

Typical pricing structures:

Onsite:

• Higher base call-out fee
• Lower per-box rate at higher volumes
• Best for 5+ boxes per visit

Offsite:

• Lower per-container rate
• Exchange fee for scheduled service
• Best for regular, ongoing needs

Our Recommendation

Many businesses use a hybrid approach:

• Regular scheduled offsite collection for day-to-day documents
• Periodic onsite destruction for accumulated sensitive materials
• Onsite service for major cleanouts and office moves