NAID AAA Certified Shredding
in Seattle, WA

Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. is

NAID® AAA Certified

Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. is NAID® AAA Certified

Plenty of shredding companies say they are certified. Ask which certification, and the answer gets vague fast.

NAID AAA is the one that matters. It is the certification auditors recognize, the one that shows up in vendor requirements for hospitals and government contracts, and the one we have held while running incident-free since 1989.

Here is what it actually means when you hand us a box of files in Seattle.


Get a NAID AAA certified shredding quote in Seattle

Certified Means The Chain Never Breaks

Most people picture the shredder. The shredder is the easy part.

The part that gets companies in trouble is everything before it. Who handled the box? Where did it sit overnight? Did it ride in an unlocked van across town? A certificate of destruction is worthless if nobody can account for the hours between your office and the blade.

Your material stays in NAID member custody from the moment we take it until it is destroyed. Not "usually." Not "in most cases." Every time.

That is why our trucks shred on your property. There is no warehouse in the middle, no overnight staging, no transfer to a third party we do not control.

What would you tell an auditor about the gap between pickup and destruction? With us, there is no gap to explain.

The people, not just the process

Certification puts requirements on who we let near your documents, and we take that further than we have to.

Every driver clears a seven-year background check before their first route. Every driver passes drug screening. We carry $2 million in liability coverage.

We also keep the same people on the same routes. Our customers see a familiar face rather than a different contractor each visit, and one of the most common reasons businesses switch to us is that their previous provider sent someone new every time. If you are handing over confidential records, you should know who is standing there.

How the destruction actually works

Paper is cut to OEM specification, 5/8 inch cutter width or less. That particle size is not a marketing number. It is what makes reconstruction impractical.

You can watch the entire process through the viewing cameras on the truck. Most customers watch once out of curiosity and then trust it after that. We would rather you looked. A company that shreds behind a closed door is asking you to take its word for something you could simply see.

Everything we collect gets recycled. One hundred percent of it. Nothing we destroy ends up in a landfill.

Afterward you receive documentation of the destruction for your compliance file.

How the destruction actually works

Paper is cut to OEM specification, 5/8 inch cutter width or less. That particle size is not a marketing number. It is what makes reconstruction impractical.

You can watch the entire process through the viewing cameras on the truck. Most customers watch once out of curiosity and then trust it after that. We would rather you looked. A company that shreds behind a closed door is asking you to take its word for something you could simply see.

Everything we collect gets recycled. One hundred percent of it. Nothing we destroy ends up in a landfill.

Afterward you receive documentation of the destruction for your compliance file.

Who needs certified shredding in Seattle

If a regulation governs your records, the certification is the proof that you handled disposal correctly.

We work with records covered by HIPAA, FACTA, and GLBA. That covers a wide range of Seattle organizations:

Being a small Seattle business is part of how we ended up on approved vendor lists that larger national providers reach differently. We are local, we are here, and the same certification standard applies whether you are a two-person office or a county department.

Getting set up

We provide locking containers at no charge and collect on a schedule that matches your actual volume. You can read more about the free shredding containers we supply, or look at how scheduled shredding service works if your paper accumulates steadily.

For a one-time cleanout, purge shredding uses the same certified process. Certification does not switch off for one-off jobs.

We quote flat rates upfront with no hidden charges, and no tax is passed to you because the material is recycled. Equipment drop off and pick up fees may apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does NAID AAA certification actually cover?

    It sets requirements for how a shredding provider handles material, screens employees, secures transport, and destroys documents, and it holds the provider accountable to those standards rather than to its own marketing. It is the certification most compliance auditors look for by name.

  • Can I watch my documents get shredded?

    Yes. Our trucks have viewing cameras so you can watch the destruction happen on your property. You are welcome to stay for the whole thing or to leave us to it.

  • Do I get proof of destruction?

    Yes. You receive documentation of the destruction for your records, which is what you hand an auditor when they ask how the files were disposed of.

  • How small do you shred the paper?

    To OEM specification, 5/8 inch cutter width or less. That is the standard the certification requires and it is what makes the output impractical to reconstruct.

  • Is certified shredding more expensive?

    Not in the way people assume. Our rates are flat and quoted upfront, and the alternative carries costs of its own. An employee at $15 an hour spends roughly four hours and $60 in labor to shred 100 pounds in-house, with no chain of custody and no documentation at the end of it.

Talk to us about your compliance requirements

Call (206) 322-8461 or request a quote and we will walk through what your regulations require.

Pacific Northwest Shredding 3215 Lafayette Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 322-8461


Schedule certified shredding for your Seattle organization

Who is NAID®?

NAID is the international trade association for companies providing information destruction services. NAID’s mission is to promote security and govern its members, their standards, and their code of ethics.

What does AAA NAID® Certification mean?

Criteria for AAA NAID® Certification

NAID endorses Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. because of our techniques and dedication to your security.  Some of the reasons why NAID has certified and stands behind Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. are because we:


Unannounced Audits, the ultimate test

Who is NAID®?

NAID is the international trade association for companies providing information destruction services. NAID’s mission is to promote security and govern its members, their standards, and their code of ethics.

What does AAA NAID® Certification mean?

Criteria for AAA NAID® Certification

NAID endorses Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. because of our techniques and dedication to your security.  Some of the reasons why NAID has certified and stands behind Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. are because we:


Unannounced Audits, the ultimate test

206-322-8461

Why Shred

Your business is nobody’s business.
Each day, businesses just like yours generate tons of confidential information. How are you protecting this confidential material? A secure document destruction program from Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. is the best prevention against corporate espionage and identity theft. Even better, it’s one of the easiest ways to protect your profits and security. Common sense aside, federal regulations demand that certain information be disposed of properly: we ensure you’re compliant. Keep your private information private by contacting us today. Security of proprietary information.

Having a security guard doesn’t mean your company is secure.

Your success rests on innovation, leadership, and reputation. Unfortunately, documents thrown in the trash or taken out of recycling bins threaten the very livelihood of your business. Information about your clients, vendors, partners, and company are left vulnerable when you don’t dispose of them carefully and properly. When you securely destroy your proprietary information, you’re making a wise security move. You’re protecting the hard work, ideas, and proprietary systems that make your company successful.

Identity theft

You have a lot on your plate: the last thing you need is angry clients and employees. When you’re in business, you accumulate private, confidential information from clients, employees, and contractors. Things like social security numbers and credit card information become your responsibility. Unfortunately, identity theft is a major problem. And, while you may be taking extreme measures to protect your electronic data, most identity theft occurs through traditional channels: by stealing records.


At Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. we believe that implementing a secure document destruction program is good business: you’re not only protecting your workforce and your clients, but your business reputation, too.

Workplace privacy

Your information + the wrong hands = a recipe for disaster.

Companies in the United States lose over $45 billion dollars each year because their trade secrets are stolen. Here’s the kicker: contrary to popular belief, most of this information is not lost due to sneaky computer hackers. The real culprit: Dumpster diving.


In simple terms, much of our sensitive information is printed: we make copies of proposals, contracts, budgets, and any day to day incidental records (just to name a few). Technological revolution aside, our companies run on paper. When we throw these documents into the recycling bin, they’re left for the whole world to see and read.


When you implement a document destruction program with Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. you can rest easy. Our locked bins keep information hidden from prying eyes, our screened professionals ensure a secure chain of custody, all material is completely annihilated, and your trade secrets remain secret.


They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Protect your company’s privacy: implement a document destruction program today.

Compliance: To Shred is The Law

In case our common sense didn’t inspire you, perhaps Uncle Sam will. Shredding your private information is more than a wise business move, it’s the law. In an effort to protect the privacy of patients and consumers, several laws have been put on the books. These mandates require businesses to destroy their confidential information:


  • HIPAA/HITECH
  • The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
  • The FACTA Act.
  • State & Federal Laws (The Red Flags Rule)
  • Closest thing to a National Shred Law


When you work with Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. you’re ensuring that your business is compliant with federal laws. To learn more about these laws, please visit our Resource Center.

Why Shred

Your business is nobody’s business.
Each day, businesses just like yours generate tons of confidential information. How are you protecting this confidential material? A secure document destruction program from Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. is the best prevention against corporate espionage and identity theft. Even better, it’s one of the easiest ways to protect your profits and security. Common sense aside, federal regulations demand that certain information be disposed of properly: we ensure you’re compliant. Keep your private information private by contacting us today. Security of proprietary information.

Having a security guard doesn’t mean your company is secure.

Your success rests on innovation, leadership, and reputation. Unfortunately, documents thrown in the trash or taken out of recycling bins threaten the very livelihood of your business. Information about your clients, vendors, partners, and company are left vulnerable when you don’t dispose of them carefully and properly. When you securely destroy your proprietary information, you’re making a wise security move. You’re protecting the hard work, ideas, and proprietary systems that make your company successful.

Identity theft

You have a lot on your plate: the last thing you need is angry clients and employees. When you’re in business, you accumulate private, confidential information from clients, employees, and contractors. Things like social security numbers and credit card information become your responsibility. Unfortunately, identity theft is a major problem. And, while you may be taking extreme measures to protect your electronic data, most identity theft occurs through traditional channels: by stealing records.


At Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. we believe that implementing a secure document destruction program is good business: you’re not only protecting your workforce and your clients, but your business reputation, too.

Workplace privacy

Your information + the wrong hands = a recipe for disaster.

Companies in the United States lose over $45 billion dollars each year because their trade secrets are stolen. Here’s the kicker: contrary to popular belief, most of this information is not lost due to sneaky computer hackers. The real culprit: Dumpster diving.


In simple terms, much of our sensitive information is printed: we make copies of proposals, contracts, budgets, and any day to day incidental records (just to name a few). Technological revolution aside, our companies run on paper. When we throw these documents into the recycling bin, they’re left for the whole world to see and read.


 When you implement a document destruction program with Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. you can rest easy. Our locked bins keep information hidden from prying eyes, our screened professionals ensure a secure chain of custody, all material is completely annihilated, and your trade secrets remain secret.


They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Protect your company’s privacy: implement a document destruction program today.

Compliance: To Shred is The Law

In case our common sense didn’t inspire you, perhaps Uncle Sam will. Shredding your private information is more than a wise business move, it’s the law. In an effort to protect the privacy of patients and consumers, several laws have been put on the books. These mandates require businesses to destroy their confidential information:


  • HIPAA/HITECH
  • The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
  • The FACTA Act.
  • State & Federal Laws (The Red Flags Rule)
  • Closest thing to a National Shred Law


When you work with Pacific Northwest Shredding, Inc. you’re ensuring that your business is compliant with federal laws. To learn more about these laws, please visit our Resource Center.