Everyone knows you should shred paper if you want it to be securely destroyed. But for many people shredding uniforms is a whole new world they haven’t even thought of. Any uniform material from cotton to burlap, polyurethane and nylon can all be shredded and recycled to create new materials, helping cut down on waste. But that’s not the only reason you should shred your old uniforms. Here are a few good reasons why you should shred your old uniforms instead of throwing them in the bin with the labels cut off.
Data Protection
The Data Protection Act 1988 defines the processing of data on identifiable living people and covers anything that could be related to them. It states that personal data must be destroyed securely when it is no longer needed or relevant in order to be compliant. If your employees wear uniforms that include their names, for example, then you need to make sure you destroy them properly when they leave. Most businesses won’t have 2 people with the same name, and even if they do it’s doubtful they wear the same size, so uniforms will usually be thrown away. However, if you just throw them in the bin, you could be risking some quite hefty fines. It might seem a touch overzealous to shred a uniform top just because it has someone’s name on it, but in reality this simple thing could be enough to cause trouble. By sending old uniforms to be shredded and recycled, you are not only being green, but you are ensuring complete compliance with the regulations as well.
Security
Someone wearing a uniform is someone we tend to trust should be wearing it. So if someone is wearing a police officer’s uniform, we naturally assume they are a police officer. But what if they weren’t? What if they have actually fished the uniform out of the bin, washed it and put it on to play pretend? We trust police officers, so you may let them into your home if they give you a reason to. Or if you are a business that deals with cash, you may regularly have pick-ups from a uniformed security professional. Because these professionals can change around, you usually rely on the uniform and ID card to make sure they are the right people. If a criminal gets their hands on a security uniform and creates a fake ID, they might fool you into letting them into your safe and taking a normal pick up. You have just handed over your hard earned money to a clever con-artist. Of course we think of these scenarios as fanciful, something that could never happen to you, but they do happen every day. Destroying uniforms when they are no longer needed completely removes this risk and keeps your business safe.
Environmentally Friendly
Over the course of 2015, 45.9 million tonnes of waste were send to landfill. Landfill waste doesn’t get recycled and contributes to the worlds pollution problems. Businesses are a big contributor to this issue. Over the past 3 years, the number of people imprisoned for committing serious waste times tripled, with a total of 335 individuals and companies being prospected and found guilty. By sending your old workwear to landfill you are contributing to the problem, when actually you could be part of the solution. Even if you don’t have any information on your uniforms, they can be shredded and recycled to create new materials, giving you an environmentally friendly way to dispose of your waste. Shredding your uniforms can help your business to fulfil its green initiatives and do some good in the world too.
If you’re still not sure about shredding your old uniforms, we would be more than happy to chat to you about the benefits and processes. There are many reasons why you should shred and recycle your old, unwanted uniforms on top of those we have talked about today, so for more information please do get in touch with us today for a free consultation.
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