The dust settles as after the shred truck has left your location upon completion of a successful shredding session. Turning to go back about your normal business you wonder as to the fate of the shredded material. You were in a hurry when you selected your shred service provider, and you never really looked into what happens afterward. Where does it all go? What happens to it?
All very good questions, and the answers are some important aspects of the shredding industry that you should know about. The impact that the answer to this question can have is huge and should be one of the primary factors in your choice of shredding service providers.
So…What Happens?
Gathering, Bundling, and Shipping
With all the shredded material loaded into the back of the shredding truck, it is taken back to the home base where it is unloaded for bundling. Bundling, as the word implies, is simply the act of pressing and tying all the shredded material together in manageable bundles. These bundles are then loaded up into a truck and shipped off to a recycling facility. Depending on the procedures of the specific shredding provider, bundling may be skipped, and the loose material directly offloaded into a recycling facility.
Recycling Paper and Its Impact
We all know about recycling paper, this isn’t anything new. When shredded material arrives at the recycling plant, it is processed and sent off to be turned into new products. This is all well and good, of course, but what is the exact impact of this?
The impact of the paper recycling industry is large, and increasing sustainability efforts will further that impact. The biggest impact it has is in the conservation of natural resources, energy savings, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and frees up space in the landfills for other items.
Consider the following impact of recycling just 1 ton of paper: 17 trees saved, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space opened up, and 4,000 kilowatts of power saved for use by the average home for six months. Greenhouse gas emissions also drop by 1 metric ton of carbon equivalent. In 2017, it is estimated that 44.2 million tons of paper were recycled in the USA.
And That’s How It Works
All shredded material is sent off for recycling into new products in support of sustainability efforts. This extends to far more than just paper as well. Any electronics shred are also sent for recycling into new products in support of sustainability. It is an important aspect of any shredding provider and is the mark of a truly great service provider.
Feel free to contact us for secure and sustainable shredding services.
