Is your office drowning in paperwork? Are filing cabinets bursting at the seams with outdated documents? When paperwork or documents pile up, they don’t just create clutter. They present security risks and operational inefficiencies. A one-time shredding service might be exactly what your business needs to reset your document management system and improve your overall security.

Whether moving offices, cleaning out storage rooms, or doing an annual file purge, a one-time shred is the perfect way to securely dispose of confidential information. Here are the top five reasons your office should schedule a one-time shredding service.

1. Protect Your Business from Identity Theft and Data Breaches

Even in the digital age, sensitive information still exists in physical form. Outdated records often contain proprietary business data, customer information, or employee details that could lead to serious consequences if exposed.

Every document containing sensitive information represents a potential security risk when improperly disposed of. A professional one-time shredding service helps mitigate these risks by:

Ensuring all confidential information is destroyed beyond recovery,
Providing a Certificate of Destruction for compliance documentation,
Following industry-standard security protocols during collection and destruction, and
Preventing sensitive information from being accidentally discarded in regular trash.

With data breaches costing businesses an average of $4.88 million, according to the IBM Cost of Data Breach 2024 report, investing in proper document destruction is simply good risk management.

2. Regulatory Compliance Made Easy

From the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and local privacy laws, businesses are legally required to properly dispose of confidential documents. Non-compliance can lead to audits, penalties, or even lawsuits.

With a professional one-time shred, your business stays compliant by:

Following proper disposal procedures,
Receiving a Certificate of Destruction, and
Working with trained, certified shredding professionals.

It’s peace of mind, wrapped in a secure service.

3. Clear Out Clutter and Reclaim Valuable Office Space

Offices often deal with tons of paperwork. They can be stacked on a desk, in common areas, or a corner somewhere. Documents can also be organized in filing cabinets or boxes inside storage rooms. Whatever the case, they take up valuable real estate in your office. Over time, they can accumulate and take over significant portions of your workspace.

So, a one-time purge is the perfect opportunity to:

Free up space for more productive use,
Improve organization and office efficiency, and
Boost employee morale by removing unnecessary clutter.

A one-time shredding service allows you to quickly reclaim this valuable real estate. Many businesses are surprised by how much usable space they recover after purging years of accumulated paper. This freed-up space can be repurposed for revenue-generating activities, employee collaboration areas, or simply to create a more spacious, professional work environment.

4. Cost-Effective for Occasional Needs

Many offices attempt to handle document destruction internally. But, this approach often proves inefficient and costly. Office shredders typically handle only small volumes, jam frequently, and create noise and dust that can affect workplace comfort. The time an employee spends on shredding also represents a hidden but significant cost. In addition, standard office shredders don’t provide the security level of professional equipment.

Furthermore, if your business doesn’t generate enough paper waste, then a recurring shredding program is hard to justify financially. So, a one-time shred is a budget-friendly alternative. It allows you to securely dispose of large volumes of documents in a single, affordable service—without committing to an ongoing contract. A one-time shredding service is perfect for year-end cleanouts, office moves or closures, post-audit or compliance reviews, and occasional bulk disposal needs.

A one-time shredding service offers a more cost-effective solution by:

Destroying large volumes of documents quickly and efficiently,
Freeing up employee time for revenue-generating activities,
Eliminating the need to purchase and maintain office shredding equipment, and
Providing higher security standards than most in-house options can achieve.

5. Promote Environmental Responsibility

Professional one-time shredding services typically incorporate environmentally responsible practices, including:

100% recycling of shredded paper materials,
Reduction in your organization’s carbon footprint,
Support for sustainable business operations, and
Contribution to reduced demand for virgin paper products.

One ton of recycled paper saves approximately 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity. By choosing a one-time shredding service with strong environmental practices, your document purge becomes an opportunity to demonstrate corporate social responsibility while meeting your security needs.

How One-Time Shredding Services Work

The process is designed to be simple and convenient:

Schedule your service – Most providers offer flexible scheduling options.
Preparation – Gather documents for destruction (no need to remove staples or paper clips).
Collection – Secure bins or bags are provided for document collection.
On-site or off-site destruction – Documents are shredded at your location or a secure facility.
Certificate of Destruction – You receive documentation of proper disposal for your records.
Recycling – Shredded materials enter the recycling stream.

With minimal disruption to your operations, you can eliminate years of accumulated paperwork in a single service appointment.

One-Time Shredding, Long-Term Benefits

One-time shredding service offers businesses an efficient, secure, and cost-effective solution for managing document overload. Whether you’re facing a paper crisis, planning an office move, or simply implementing better information governance practices, professional shredding provides benefits that extend beyond mere convenience. By protecting sensitive information, recovering valuable space, reducing costs, and supporting environmental sustainability, you’ll be making a smart business decision that addresses multiple organizational needs simultaneously.

When selecting a provider, look for a company offering flexible scheduling, transparent pricing, and a strong security protocol that includes a Certificate of Destruction. With the right partner, your one-time shredding project can transform cluttered office space while strengthening your overall security posture.

Ready to schedule your one-time shred?

Contact Marshall Shredding today to arrange secure document destruction and take the first step toward a cleaner, safer office.