And How To Safely Dispose of It

Confidential waste is something that many of us don’t think about or consider when it comes to protecting ourselves, our family and our business. But this type of waste, including corporate financial records, personal identification information and more, spans several categories, all of which must be handled carefully to protect against identity theft, fraud and data breaches.

What Exactly Is Confidential Waste?

Confidential waste includes any documents or materials that contain sensitive personal or business information. This type of waste should never be disposed of with regular trash or in the recycling bin. If it is not properly disposed of it can expose you and your business to numerous risks if it falls into the wrong hands.

Take a look at some of the common types of confidential waste:

• Financial Documents: This type of confidential waste includes bank statements, credit card statements, loan applications and other financial paperwork that contain account numbers, balances and transactional information, making them targets for identity thieves.
• Legal Documents: This type can include contracts, court documents, intellectual property paperwork and other legal records often contain sensitive information that could be used to compromise a business or individual.
• Personal Documents: Personal records, such as medical documents, employment records or insurance papers, can include social security numbers, medical history, and addresses—information that, if lost or stolen, can have severe repercussions for individuals.
• Personnel Records: Staff data, payroll information, performance reviews and disciplinary records all fall into the confidential waste category and therefore require careful handling to comply with privacy laws and to protect employees’ privacy.
• Client Records: Contracts, contact information, billing details, client account information and other client-related paperwork can have confidential details that, if compromised, can destroy trust and violate privacy laws if disposed of improperly.
• IT and Company Network Information: Passwords, system designs and network data that are kept on paperwork or in files can represent a major security risk if not securely destroyed.

All these types of documents represent potential vulnerabilities if not disposed of securely.

Why Proper Disposal of Confidential Waste Is Important

Businesses and individuals who fail to properly dispose of confidential waste can suffer serious consequences. Here are some of the risks associated with improper confidential waste disposal practices:

• Identity Theft: Identity theft is one of the biggest and fastest growing crimes. Documents containing personal identifiable information (PII) can be used to steal someone’s identity, impersonate them and can then lead to financial and reputational damage.
• Fraud and Financial Loss: Sensitive financial information that is stolen can be used to make unauthorized transactions, open fake accounts, take out fraudulent loans, which can cause significant financial harm to individuals and businesses.
• Loss of Competitive Advantage: Businesses that are compromised by loss or theft of confidential data can risk losing trade secrets, company strategies and client information which can have a serious impact on a business’s competitive standing in the marketplace.
• Legal Consequences: All businesses must comply with laws and regulations regarding privacy. Organizations that mishandle confidential data can be subject to fines, lawsuits and damage to their reputation.
• Loss of Trust: When customer or employee information is handled improperly, it can lead to loss of trust and a loss of business, reduced employee morale and public backlash.
• Data Breaches and Cybersecurity Threats: IT and network related documents that contain system information or passwords can lead to data breaches and other cybersecurity threats, potentially compromising large networks and sensitive databases.

How to Safely Dispose of Confidential Waste

Secure disposal of confidential waste is essential to protect personal and business information. On-site mobile shredding is the top method to dispose of confidential waste securely.

On-Site Mobile Shredding Offers the Following Benefits:

Improved Security: With on-site mobile shredding, documents are destroyed onsite at your office or home eliminating the need to transport large amounts of documents from one location to another which minimizes the risk of documents being intercepted, lost or tampered with during transport.

Convenience and Efficiency: On-site shredding is fast, efficient and convenient. A state-of-the-art shredding truck comes to you and trained professionals shred the documents while you witness the entire process.

Compliance with Privacy Laws: Mobile shredding companies are familiar with privacy laws and regulations, which ensure that your confidential waste is disposed of while adhering to compliance regulations. A Certificate of Destruction is also provided for your records to verify compliance and offer increased peace of mind that your confidential data has been permanently destroyed.

Environmentally Friendly: Mobile shredding companies will recycle your shredded material, making the process eco-friendly.

Improper handling and disposal of sensitive information can lead to serious ramifications. From financial records to legal documents, understanding what constitutes confidential waste and the risks associated with mishandling it is crucial.

All Points Mobile Shredding offers full service shredding and destruction for your company and to individuals throughout the state of Florida. Our team of experts can ensure that your confidential waste is properly and securely destroyed which helps you remain compliant and protects you from the risks of theft, fraud and losses. Complete the form on this page or give us a call today to learn more.