Data loss fears spur shredders to rapid growth

Mar 15 2008 by Sion Barry, Western Mail

A CONFIDENTIAL data shredding venture is experiencing rapid growth.

Taffs Well-based South Wales Shredding was established a year ago by Sheryl Capaldi and Catherine Eley.

Their mobile shredding service handles more than 30 tonnes of confidential material a month.

Interest from the public sector, corporate bodies and charities has increased following high-profile cases of lost data and identity theft risk.

With the help of an Assembly investment grant the company was able to buy a custom-built 18-tonne truck fitted with a heavy-duty shredder which can destroy documents, CDs, tapes and counterfeit goods at source. The shredded material is then taken by the firm’s security-vetted drivers to a secure site and recycled.

South Wales Shredding has already shredded and recycled more than 270 tonnes of paper, diverting many tonnes from landfill. Its owners are expect to more than double this figure in the coming year.

Ms Capaldi said, “Destruction of confidential material at its source dramatically reduces the risk of it falling into the wrong hands or being misused.”

Her experience when working for another company made her aware of the risks of transporting confidential documents by van, especially where several pick-ups a day from different companies were involved.

Service users now include doctors, solicitors, estate agents and insurance firms, public sector organisations including the Welsh Joint Education Committee, and charities such as Barnardo’s. And there is growing interest from South Wales local authorities in using the service to help promote community awareness of identity theft.