Time to Clear Out That Confidential Paperwork
If you’ve got a cupboard, filing cabinet or archive box full of old paperwork that has been waiting to be dealt with, National Shred Day on Friday 2 October 2026 is a good opportunity to finally clear it out.
National Shred Day is organised by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and brings attention to the importance of disposing of confidential information securely. The event has been running since 2021, when the first National Shred Day gave businesses and members of the public an opportunity to safely dispose of confidential paper.
Why does secure shredding matter?
Old paperwork can contain all sorts of information that you don’t want falling into the wrong hands – customer details, employee records, financial information, addresses, correspondence and business documents.
Simply putting confidential paperwork into a general recycling bin isn’t enough. Once it leaves your premises, you need to know that it is being handled securely and destroyed properly.
Professional information destruction services are designed to keep confidential material secure through collection, transportation and destruction. BSIA Information Destruction members work to BS EN 15713, the recognised standard for the secure destruction of confidential material.
A good excuse for a clear-out
National Shred Day is also a handy reminder to have a look through those old files and paperwork.
If you have records that have reached the end of their required retention period, it could be time to get them securely destroyed. Just make sure you check your own retention policies before putting anything forward for shredding.
And it isn’t only businesses with a mountain of paperwork. Old files, archived documents and confidential records can quickly build up in offices of all sizes.
National Shred Day at Perrys
Perrys Recycling is taking part in National Shred Day across the South West, giving local businesses and organisations the opportunity to bring their confidential paper in for secure shredding.
Our participating locations provide regional coverage across:
- Devon and Cornwall – Appledore depot
- Somerset and Dorset – Bridgwater and Marston Magna depots
- South Gloucestershire and South Wales – Avonmouth, Bristol depot
If you’ve been meaning to sort through that paperwork for months, Friday 2 October is a pretty good date to get it done.
Securely shred it, clear some space and get one more job ticked off the list.
Sources
- British Security Industry Association – National Shred Day
- British Security Industry Association – Information Destruction
- British Security Industry Association – Secure Information Destruction guidance
