Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about our on-site paper shredding and mobile paper shredding services in West Islip, NY and across Long Island.
The Basics
How On-Site & Mobile Paper Shredding Works
On-site paper shredding means our mobile shredding truck comes directly to your home or business and destroys your documents right there, on your property. You watch the process happen in real time — your files never leave your location unshredded. It's the most secure method of document destruction available, because there is no risk during transit.
Mobile paper shredding is the same as on-site shredding — we bring our industrial shredding equipment to you in a specialized truck. This eliminates the need to drop off documents at a facility, keeping your sensitive information secure from the moment you hand it over to the moment it's destroyed. It's the safest, most convenient option for homes and businesses on Long Island.
It's simple: (1) You contact us and describe your shredding needs. (2) We schedule a convenient time and arrive at your location on time. (3) You bring your documents — in boxes, bags, or bins — to the truck. (4) We feed them directly into our industrial shredder. (5) You watch the destruction happen. (6) We provide you with a Certificate of Destruction before we leave. (7) All shredded material is taken to a certified recycling mill.
No. That's the whole point! Our mobile shredding truck comes to you — your home, office, warehouse, or storage unit. You don't need to load boxes into your car or drive anywhere. We handle everything right at your property.
We typically schedule service within a few business days. For urgent needs, call us directly at 631-456-2279 and we'll do our best to accommodate a faster appointment. We offer flexible scheduling to work around your hours.
Materials
What Can Be Shredded?
No! You do not need to remove staples, small paper clips, or large binder clips from your documents. Our industrial-grade shredder handles them all without any issues. Just put your documents in a box or bag as-is — no prep work required.
Yes! We can shred CDs and optical discs along with your paper documents. Hard drives, X-rays, and microfiche can also be destroyed — these are shredded separately from your paper documents to ensure proper recycling and disposal. Just let us know what you have when you schedule.
Any document that contains personal, financial, medical, or business-sensitive information should be shredded rather than thrown in the trash or recycling bin. This includes: tax returns, bank statements, credit card statements, medical records, insurance documents, pay stubs, employee records, client files, legal documents, canceled checks, utility bills with your address, and any document with Social Security numbers, account numbers, or personal information.
There are a few items we cannot process through our paper shredder: black carbon sheets, plastic items, and cardboard. Please remove these from your boxes before the shredding appointment. If you're unsure about a specific item, just ask when you call.
Absolutely. Our one-time purge service is designed exactly for this. Whether you have 10 boxes or hundreds, we can handle it in a single visit or schedule additional trips. We service offices, medical facilities, warehouses, storage units, and more. No job is too big — just give us a call to discuss the scope.
Security & Compliance
Certifications, Compliance & Security
Yes. A Shred Away Inc. is HIPAA compliant, making us a trusted choice for medical offices, dental practices, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. We handle all patient records with the care, confidentiality, and security required by HIPAA regulations, and we provide a Certificate of Destruction for your compliance documentation.
Yes. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) requires businesses to properly dispose of consumer report information to protect consumers from identity theft. Our shredding service meets FACTA disposal requirements and provides documentation of compliant destruction.
A Certificate of Destruction is an official document we provide after every shredding job. It confirms the date, time, and scope of destruction, and serves as legal proof that your documents were properly and securely destroyed. This is important for HIPAA compliance, FACTA compliance, business audits, and your own peace of mind. We provide one after every single service — no exceptions.
NAID stands for the National Association for Information Destruction. NAID certification is the gold standard in the secure document destruction industry. It means our operations, security protocols, and practices meet rigorous standards set by the leading industry organization. When you choose a NAID certified company, you're choosing verified, professional-grade document security.
Absolutely. All information you share with us — your name, address, contact details, and description of your shredding needs — is used solely to fulfill your service. We never sell, share, or distribute your personal information. Privacy is the entire foundation of what we do.
Service Area & Logistics
Service Area & Scheduling
Yes! Based in West Islip, NY, we serve all of Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, including West Islip, Babylon, Bay Shore, Islip, Brentwood, Huntington, Smithtown, Hauppauge, Ronkonkoma, Patchogue, Commack, Deer Park, Amityville, Massapequa, Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Great Neck, Riverhead, and many more communities. If you're on Long Island, we've got you covered.
We service virtually any location: homes and residential properties, business offices, medical facilities, law firms, financial institutions, warehouses, storage units, schools, and more. If you have documents that need to be shredded and you're on Long Island, we can come to you.
Yes! Many of our business clients use our scheduled recurring service — available weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly. This is ideal for offices, medical practices, legal firms, and any organization that regularly generates confidential documents and needs ongoing compliance. Contact us to set up a schedule that works for your volume and budget.
Getting a quote is easy — and free. You can call us at 631-456-2279 or fill out the quote request form on our Contact page. Just let us know your location, what type of service you need, and an approximate volume of documents, and we'll get back to you with a straightforward, no-obligation price.
100% of the shredded paper we collect goes directly to a certified paper recycling mill — not to a landfill. Choosing on-site paper shredding with A Shred Away is both a secure and an environmentally responsible choice. You protect your privacy and help protect the planet at the same time.
Still Have Questions?
We're happy to help. Give us a call or send us a message — there's no question too big or too small when it comes to protecting your sensitive documents.