Pictured: Lou Gardner, Marketing and Sales Manager at WN Security Shredding with a one tonne bale of confidential documents minutes after going through the shredder behind her. A medium sized law firm generates 20 of these bales every year

Companies can show their green credentials and save thousands of pounds in energy and staff costs by getting expert help with confidential document disposal, says Shropshire-based WN Security Shredding.

The firm will be giving this message as an exhibitor at the GreenExpo at Sixways Stadium in Worcester on Thursday November 10 - a free event that aims show businesses how they can become more profitable by going green.

Lou Gardner, Marketing and Sales Manager at Shifnal-based WN Security Shredding, said: "Put simply, companies that do not outsource the secure disposal of confidential documents are likely to be wasting a lot of money and needlessly damaging the environment."

She said the example, last week, of Business Secretary Vince Cable having to apologise for dumping un-shredded confidential documents in recycling waste at his constituency office also illustrates the risks of not seeking expert help.  

Lou Gardner added: "The sheer amount of confidential documents generated by many organisations mean these potential problems need very close attention.  

"For example, a medium-sized firm of solicitors can easily generate 20 tonnes of confidential documents every year. That is equivalent to 3.1 million sheets of A4 paper.

"At a conservative estimate, it would take 600 continuous hours to shred that amount of paper in-house with a commercial office shredder. That is equivalent to around £500 on the company's electricity bill.

"Added to that is the total staff cost, which includes gathering the paper together and bagging up and storing the shredded waste, and the cost of the shredder and its maintenance.

"So, that firm of solicitors would be spending many thousands of pounds a year, and would still have to pay for the paper waste to be disposed of properly."

Lou Gardner said this is one of many clear examples of how going green is good for profits not just the environment.

She added: "The idea that being green is bad for business is a myth. We are very pleased to be an exhibitor at GreenExpo because we can show clearly how using our services saves companies money and helps them become more environmentally-conscious.

"Because we shred paper in bulk we can be much more energy-efficient. Also, creating one tonne of recycled paper instead of new paper saves 17 trees and 26,000 litres of water - and consumes up to 70% less energy.

"An increasing number of companies come to us because they want to be green, as well as save money. But there are still many out there struggling along using inefficient and wasteful practices."

WN Security Shredding has been leading the way in recycling in the Midlands for more than 20 years by supplying paper mills in the UK and overseas with shredded, baled waste paper, which is turned into toilet paper and paper towels.

Customers are supplied with clearly marked sacks and bins allowing worry-free collection of appropriate security waste. Customers include private companies and Government offices.

WN Security Shredding provides a secure shredding service, including mobile shredding and electronic data destruction, across Shropshire, Mid and North Wales, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Chester, Manchester, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

The firm provides an auditable trail by supplying a certificate of destruction and annual certificate of recycling detailing the volume of waste paper recycled.

More than 50 exhibitors are taking part in the free GreenExpo which runs from 12.30-7pm. For more information go to: http://www.yarrington.co.uk/greenexpo