Before we start talking about confidential waste disposal, now is a good time to find out what it is. This blog will explain what it is and what it means for your business. Keep reading for the lowdown on confidential waste.
What does ‘confidential waste’ mean?
Confidential waste is what it says on the tin. This is waste that is important data or documents within it. This is defined in business terms as waste that has information about your customers, suppliers, employees or wider stakeholders. Misplacing or incorrectly disposing of this waste can result in a fine or legal action being taken against you and your business. That is why confidential waste management services are so important. But this raises an important question…
Do I need a confidential waste management service?
The answer to this question in the vast majority of cases is yes, you do. The law states that disposing of confidential waste should be done by a licensed service provider if you can’t dispose of the waste yourself. Taking into account that this sensitive waste needs to be securely disposed of, that chances are that your business does not have that ability.
Why is sensitive waste disposal important?
When General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came in full force in May 2018, businesses needed to ensure they were compliant in new and different ways. This EU law ensured even more rights to people and their information.
Yet, when the U.K. left the EU, things changed slightly. The names of some laws needed to be changed. Yet luckily for businesses, the greater majority of these laws simply changed their names or were changed to become more U.K. appropriate. The hard work HR and legal departments did the years before Brexit did not go in vein.
UK GDPR laws are still as important as they were. They ensure that our data can’t be leaked or used in negative ways. This means how we dispose of waste has arguably become more important over time, because the consequences of misplacing or misusing this information could result in large fines.
Getting rid of unneeded data isn’t a huge task. You simply need to find a licensed disposal firm. Like Direct365. We are licensed to carry confidential, hazardous, general waste and more.
What regulations do I need to know?
Great question! Here are the most important regulations you need to know:
UK GDPR
UK GDPR is the regulation that governs how our data and information is uses by businesses. For a greater understanding, check out our GDPR Introduction Guide here.
The Data Protection Act
The data protection act came into U.K. law in 1998. This law covers a number of basis, but is the precursor for GDPR. It essentially states that the reason you ask or store sensitive data must be the only reason to use it, and it must not be used for any other reason.
Regular Confidential Waste Disposal
You don’t want to be low-hanging fruit when it comes to data theft. An ordinary paper shredder is prone to damage with staples, paper clips proving too troublesome for them to take. A secure shredding container does away with this problem. Place the documents that need disposing of and hey presto, it’s picked up and taken care of.
Our service provides a secure chain of custody, from the moment one container leaves the premises to its destination of destruction. With GPS tracked vans and ISO9001 & ISO14001 accredited staff, your documents and data will be shredded and recycled with the utmost confidentiality.
One Off Confidential Waste Disposal
If you require a complete purge of all your documents, we offer an ad-hoc service specifically built for you. When that you fill the bag with:
Client files, contact lists, financial reports, private correspondence, employee records, business documents, staples and paperclips.
Whether you’re shredding old records or in need of a proper spring clean, a one-off shred will be ideal for you. If you’re not sure what is and isn’t fit for shredding, we will plan out a free site survey to assess what’s best for you.
Get in contact with us today for an instant quote on your confidential shredding needs.