American Shredding, Inc.

If you need to destroy information that is personal, secret, private, or proprietary, who would you trust to do it?

You could turn to a company I trust: American Shredding Company.  I trust them because we have investigated the way they treat their customers, the way they operate their business, and maybe most important, the extraordinary security they have developed.

As a result, I am proud to endorse American Shredding Company, as a company I trust, and declare them Gephardt Approved.

“We destroy everything,” says Erik Brown, the security specialist at American Shredding.  “We mostly destroy documents and computer hard drives for companies and individuals.  But we have destroyed illegal fur coats, black market sneakers and headphones, and even software and gaming systems.”

American Shredding promises the utmost in security throughout the entire process.  I visited their plant in Salt Lake City, and noticed right away doors that are always locked, and there are security cameras both inside and out.  And, I noticed that 100% of the document destruction machinery and process is located indoors, behind locked overhead doors.

“Customers trust businesses with their personal information, and businesses can trust us when it needs to be securely destroyed,” Erik told me.

The people at American Shredding also provide recycling services. Erik told me, “We have found creative ways to recycle various plastics, metals, papers, and even food.  And very often, the recycling means money for our clients.  So, instead of paying to throw away stuff in the landfills, we actually pay our clients for stuff they have to get rid of.”

And, Erik says the people at American Shredding are very creative about recycling.  “We will figure out a way to recycle just about anything,” Erik said.  “If you have something to recycle, call us up.  I’ll bet we can figure out a way.”

“When a company calls us, we will dumpster dive and audit their waste,” Erik added.  “Sometimes we have to figure new ways, and problem solve for destruction and recycling.  But it is very interesting to be able to take a company to zero dumping in the landfill.”

Erik says American Shredding’s process for destroying personal information is unique in Utah.  It begins with locked deposit bins American Shredding delivers to its customers (sometimes, customers prefer to deliver boxes of paper or hard drives to the company plant located near Salt Lake International Airport).   Paper and hard drives are placed in those bins.  While the hard drives are ground into rubble, paper is shredded, and that happens for the first time in American Shredding’s state-of-the-art secure trucks.  The shredded paper in the trucks is emptied into powerful machines inside of the company’s plant. There, where the paper is shredded not just one more time, but two more times.  All of the shredding’s are then co-mingled, as liquid is added.  That forms a moist aggregate.  That aggregate is then compressed into bales, to be shipped off to recycling plants.  “There is no way anyone can piece back together any of that paper,” says Erik.  In fact, American Shredding’s literature brags that they “started shredding for IBM in 1982, and have never once lost or compromised a single piece of information.”

I found a certain pride in the whole process from American Shredding employees.  “You get a sense of satisfaction that you’re helping people securely destroy documents,” said plant manager Scott McNully.  “And you also keep the earth a little bit greener by keeping all that stuff out of the landfill.”

When it comes to customer service, Erik says they have developed a system that is very efficient.  In essence, it means that a customer gets to stay in touch with the American Shredding representative he started with.  But, for the occasional problem, Erik says they push responsiveness.  “We will offer an immediate response to any problems around the clock.  It’s all about communication.  For the rare times when we can’t respond immediately, often because of weather, we will tell the customer what they can expect, and customers will be given alternatives.  Plus, customers are given the cell phone number of our plant manager.”

So, American Shredding Company:  Now you know what I found out about their business practices, the way they treat their customers, and the security they’ve developed for destroying personal information.  Now you know why I trust this company, and why I am proud to endorse American Shredding Company as Gephardt Approved.

--Bill Gephardt