Why is Confidential Waste Disposal Important?
On a daily basis, most businesses will be handling a range of sensitive documents, from bank statements and tax returns to customer and employee records. If this paperwork ends up in the wrong hands, this can result in severe consequences, so it’s important to implement the correct confidential waste disposal processes.
But how do you dispose of confidential waste? The team at SCS Waste is here to explain everything you need to know.
What is confidential waste disposal?
Confidential waste is classed as any kind of documentation that contains personal data or sensitive information. Naturally, this type of paperwork can’t just be thrown away in a general waste bin when no longer needed, as this increases the risk of identity theft or data breaches.
To prevent this from happening, this waste must be correctly destroyed following strict data protection protocols, and that’s where confidential waste disposal comes in. There are several ways this can be done, from incineration to pulping, but the most common method is shredding. Here at SCS Waste, we offer a confidential shredding service to ensure your documents are thoroughly and securely destroyed, plus, we’ll provide a Certificate of Destruction for your records and peace of mind.
Confidential waste disposal regulations
The Data Protection Act 2018 enshrines GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) into UK law and sets out how businesses and government bodies should handle personal data. This legislation states that “Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.”
BS EN 15173 is the British Standard that outlines the measures an organisation should take when disposing of confidential information. This includes only employing vetted personnel, using secure premises, providing full traceability of the destruction process and more. Failure to adhere to these regulations might mean your business is subject to significant fines.
Why is confidential waste disposal important?
- Reduces risk: Without the appropriate confidential waste management protocols in place, you risk a data leak, which can have significant consequences for your finances and reputation.
- Builds customer trust: Customers are more likely to trust a company that takes data protection seriously over a business with lax confidential waste management measures.
- No penalties: If a data breach occurs as a result of confidential waste mishandling, the business owner responsible could find themself subject to a hefty fine – up to 4% of the company’s annual worldwide turnover – or even a prison sentence in extreme circumstances. With professional confidential waste disposal, this doesn’t have to be a concern.
- Safeguards reputation: It can take years to build a trusted reputation and just hours to shatter one. If your business becomes known for data mismanagement, this can attract a lot of negative publicity and affect your brand image, meaning that you may struggle to bring in new customers.
- Prevents legal challenges: If you’re found to have mishandled a customer’s data, they may have grounds to launch a legal challenge against you, which could work out to be incredibly expensive.
- Peace of mind: By employing a professional to dispose of your confidential waste, you’re afforded total peace of mind, and you can’t put a price on that.
If you need confidential waste management in Arundel, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis or the surrounding areas, get in touch with the team here at SCS Waste. We work in line with all UK regulations and will ensure your confidential waste is disposed of safely and responsibly.
