On-site shredding
On-site shredding brings the shredder to you. A vehicle with an industrial shredder parks outside, operatives bring your containers or sacks out, and the paper is destroyed before it leaves your premises. You can watch it happen, often on a screen on the side of the vehicle.
It suits material that a client contract, a regulator or your own policy says must not travel intact. Published guide prices put an on-site vehicle at an average of about £125 an hour; scheduled on-site services are also priced per visit.
Mobile shredding vehicle, averageabout £125 an houra guide, not a quote
When on-site is worth paying for
- A client or contract requires material to be destroyed before it leaves your control, common in legal, financial and some public sector work.
- You handle special category data in volume, such as health records, and want the shortest possible chain of custody.
- Staff need to witness destruction and sign for it, for internal audit or a client's assurance.
- You have a large purge and a crew with a vehicle can clear it faster than bagging and loading for transport.
- Your sites are close together, so one vehicle can visit several in a day.
What on-site shredding costs
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| On-site shredding vehicle Average hourly rate, published UK price guides, autumn 2026 | about £125 an hour |
| NHS commissioning unit, collection and on-site destruction NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit, 5-year contract, published December 2023 | £10,153 (about £2,031 a year) |
| NHS hospital trust, on-site shredding Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 3-year contract, published December 2025 | £118,605 (about £39,535 a year) |
| Hard drives shredded on site, large batches 250 to 1,000 drives, G-Cloud 15 pricing document, January 2026 | £2 to £2.60 a drive |
Where our information comes from
Per-sack, per-collection and hourly figures are typical ranges from published UK price guides, autumn 2026, summarised by us and read in November 2026. Contract values are the published figure on each award notice on the government's Contracts Finder service, linked from the cost page. Hard drive figures are from a supplier's published pricing document on the government Digital Marketplace (G-Cloud 15). A guide for budgeting, not a quote.
On site versus off site
Both can meet BS EN 15713. The difference is where the risk sits and how much you see.
The current code of practice, BS EN 15713:2023, covers both on-site destruction with mobile equipment and off-site destruction at a facility. Neither is automatically "more compliant". What matters is that the process is controlled and recorded from collection to destruction, and that the result meets the security level agreed for your material.
| On site | Off site | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is shredded | In a vehicle at your premises | At the contractor's secure facility |
| Material in transit | Already shredded | Whole, in sealed bags or locked bins |
| Can you watch? | Yes, usually | Not normally; some facilities allow visits |
| Typical cost | Higher per visit | Lower per visit |
| Space needed | Parking for a large vehicle near an entrance | None beyond the containers |
| Particle size | Set by the vehicle's shredder | Set by the facility's line, often with more options |
Parking and access
The vehicle needs to park close to a door, often for 20 minutes to an hour on a regular visit and longer on a purge. Tell the contractor about loading restrictions, height barriers and permit zones. In London, heavier lorries also need an HGV Safety Permit under TfL's Direct Vision Standard, which a contractor working in the capital should already hold.
Particle size
Ask what security level the on-board shredder produces. Mobile shredders vary, and very fine particle sizes for the most sensitive material are more often a facility service. If your material needs a high security level, confirm it can be met on site before you commit.
What to check on the day
On-site destruction is only reassuring if someone actually checks it.
Identify the crew
Ask for ID and check it matches the firm you booked. BS EN 15713 sets out screening and training for staff who handle material.
Watch the first load
Most vehicles have a camera or viewing window. Watching one container go in costs a few minutes.
Count containers out and back
Every console or bin that leaves the building should come back empty. A simple tally sheet works.
Sign only what you saw
If you are asked to sign a witness record, check the date, time and number of containers before signing.
Get the certificate
The certificate should follow promptly and match the visit. File it with your records.
Ask about rejected items
Some items, such as hard drives or heavy binders, may not go through the paper shredder and should be listed separately.
Need paper destroyed before it leaves the building? We will find an on-site shredding firm that covers your postcode.
Get pricesHow an on-site visit works
Arrival
The vehicle parks at the agreed point and the crew reports to reception with ID.
Containers out
Consoles and bins are wheeled out, or sacks carried, to the vehicle.
Shred and witness
Contents go into the shredder, often on camera, with a member of staff watching if you wish.
Return and certify
Empty containers go back in place and a certificate of destruction follows.
Questions about on-site shredding
How much does on-site shredding cost?
Published guide prices put a mobile shredding vehicle at about £125 an hour on average. Scheduled on-site services are usually priced per visit and cost more than an off-site equivalent. Public contracts give a sense of scale: an NHS commissioning unit published £10,153 over five years and a hospital trust £118,605 over three.
Is on-site shredding more secure than off-site?
It shortens the chain of custody because material never travels whole, and you can watch. Off-site destruction at an audited facility can be just as secure and can offer finer particle sizes. The right choice depends on your material and any contract terms.
Does on-site shredding meet GDPR?
UK GDPR does not name a method. It requires appropriate security for personal data (Article 32) and a proper contract with any processor. A shredding firm working to BS EN 15713:2023, on or off site, with certificates for each job, helps you show that.
Can on-site vehicles shred hard drives?
Some carry a separate drive shredder; many do not. Ask specifically, and ask for each serial number to be recorded on the certificate.
How long does a visit take?
A small regular visit is often under half an hour. A large purge can take a morning. The contractor can estimate once they know the number of containers or boxes and the distance from the door.
Keep reading
- Regular confidential waste collection
Locked consoles emptied on a schedule.
- One-off shredding and purges
Archive clear-outs and office moves.
- Hard drive destruction
Drives and devices with serial numbers recorded.
- Confidential waste disposal cost
Estimator and published contract values.
Get prices for on-site shredding
Three short steps: your postcode, what needs destroying, and how to reach you. About two minutes.
A free matching service, not a confidential waste contractor. We find one that covers your postcode and tell you who it is first. Your details go nowhere until you agree.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- Within one working day we will email or call to tell you which confidential waste contractor covers your postcode.
- Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They confirm containers, collection dates and a written price. No marketing from us, ever.