Confidential waste is something that all businesses have to deal with. Even in our personal lives, we deal with sensitive data such as bank statements, in a business setting it’s not just your own data that you’re handling. To stay on the right side of the law and keep everyone safe, you need to have practical solutions in place for the long-term. Despite many businesses cutting down on the amount of paper waste they produce it’s impossible to avoid it completely, so you need to have the right precautions in place.

Since 2018 and the introduction of Europe’s strongest data protection rules also known as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), there are more expectations for businesses and the way they handle and dispose of data. One affordable way to abide by these regulations is to hire a professional waste management service that will safely collect your files and documents before destroying them.

At Brewsters, confidential waste is just one of our specialities and we’ve helped a range of clients protect their data. We’ve put together this helpful blog explaining all you need to know about confidential waste management. Read on to find out more.

Why is confidential waste management important?

In many aspects of our lives, we put all of our trust in business and hope that our data is being protected. From financial information to addresses, banking details and more, the last thing you want is for your confidential information to be compromised. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to put the right precautions in place to protect the security of your company. This means following recommended procedures in line with GDPR.

Here we explain why confidential waste management is so important.

  • Crime prevention – the biggest and most effective benefit of proper waste management is the reduced risk of crime. Throwing sensitive documents in the bin is not a good enough prevention technique many opportunists rummage through bins in the hope of finding this information. Not taking this seriously can cause disastrous results for your organisation and your clients, however, using an experienced service is a great way of boosting your safety measures.
  • Fewer penalties – GDPR means there are new regulations in place that businesses need to follow. These guidelines have been set out for a reason and ignoring them not only jeopardises your business but also puts you on the wrong side of the law. For those who still don’t comply, fines can be issued as well as formal investigations. Always follow the expectations that have been laid out and prevent private information being shared.
  • Good reputation – if you experience a serious fraud attack due to incorrect management of data, this may be very hard to come back from. Your reputation is on the line with every decision you make so always put your best foot forward and your reputation will stay positive and strong. As soon as one incident happens and one client leaves, you may experience a snowball effect which could completely ruin your reputation.
  • Professionalism – nobody is going to want to work with a company that doesn’t take data protection seriously. To remain professional and trustworthy, do everything in your customers best interests such as keeping their data safe. Acting in a professional way shows your clients and potential new clients that you are dedicated to offering the best services available across all areas of your business.

At Brewsters, we provide secure shredding for your confidential items. Conducted by qualified personnel, we add an extra layer of protection to your business by ensuring that documents are never carelessly disposed of. Working across London, we’re on hand to help you meet the safety regulations expected from your business. Find out more today.

How should confidential data be handled?

Despite the world being in a digital era, paper documents and files are still used, especially in offices and corporate settings. So, while you may have your internet security covered, have you thought about everything else? Confidential data could be any of the following items:

  • Invoices and quotes
  • Any personal information that can be used to identify individuals (including name, address, financial data or contact numbers)
  • Employee application forms, payslips or records of employment
  • Sensitive information regarding physical and mental health information
  • Bank details, ATM receipts, utility bills, credit reports, cancelled cheques
  • Log in details and passwords

Although it may seem old fashioned, the best way of destroying this data is by having it shredded. This usually involved putting waste in a secure locker or bin that cannot be opened until it is collected and shredding off-site. Industrial shredders make it impossible for the information to be retrieved again once it has been destroyed, so you can have peace of mind that everything has been handled properly.

How shouldn’t you handle sensitive information?

When you’re running a business you come in contact with all kinds of information. You must remember that you are working on behalf of the company and the client, so never overstep the mark when it comes to handling this information and always follow procedures. You should never do the following things:

  • Leave documents lying around after you are finished with them. Always put them away as soon as you’re done.
  • Make notes of sensitive information – data should be kept in one place.
  • Make multiple copies of documents.
  • Not report missing information, files and documents. Be sure to let your manager know if paperwork goes missing or looks tampered with.

Top tips for added security

As well as hiring a professional waste removal service who can take care of things, here are a number of procedures you can do around the business to boost security, including:

  • Training your employees on the importance of data protection and disposal.
  • Double-checking all paper waste before throwing it in the bin. Anything that contains personal information should be separated and given to a professional service to handle.
  • Not keeping data longer than what’s needed. The longer documents are left lying around the more chance they have of getting into the wrong hands and becoming a risk.
  • Consider going ‘paperless’ in your office. This means only using paper when it’s completely necessary and instead of storing sensitive information online. Of course, this means your internet security needs to be high.

Brewsters: Professional Waste Disposal in London

At Brewsters, based across London, Essex and Kent, we offer a range of waste management services for all kinds of businesses. Waste management is something you need to think about whether you work on a construction site or in an office. Our experienced team also provides waste consultancy services; we’ll work with you to provide assistance and recommendations for your waste management strategy in order to keep costs down, to keep you compliant and to enforce best practices.

If you’re looking for help with your confidential waste management, we can help. As a business, it’s your responsibility to keep your own data and your clients’ data safe. We offer safe and convenient solutions to ensure your confidential documents don’t fall into the wrong hands. For more information get in touch with us today.