Physical drive destruction. HMG IS5 Higher Standard.
On-site or in our Watford facility. Drives shredded to particle sizes accepted for UK Government SECRET classification, with a per-item certificate.
- Devices processed since 2018
- 0+
- Diverted from landfill
- 0%
- Quote turnaround
- 0h
- Refurbished, not shredded
- 0%
Some drives can't be wiped — they've failed, they're encrypted with lost keys, or your information security policy simply doesn't allow software-only sanitisation. For those cases, physical destruction is the right answer, and it has to be done to a standard your auditor will accept.
We shred to HMG IS5 Higher Standard particle sizes, the same standard accepted by UK Government for material classified up to SECRET. Every drive is logged in by serial number, photographed before destruction, witnessed (in person or by video on request), and certified individually.
On-site or in-facility
Bring the drives to our Watford workshop, or we'll bring the shredder to you. On-site destruction is popular with law firms, financial services, and any client whose policy says drives don't leave the building intact.
Beyond hard drives
We also destroy backup tapes (LTO and DLT), optical media, USB sticks, decommissioned smartphones, server motherboards, and SIM cards. Anything that holds data, we certify the end of it.
Audit-grade evidence
A certificate per drive. Tied to a serial.
Hover the certificate to reveal the per-drive detail your auditor will ask for. Method, operator, verification — bundled into one pack at the end of every job.
- NIST SP 800-88 Rev 1, CESG aligned
- EA upper-tier waste carrier · CBDU311007
- Failed-wipe → on-the-spot destruction
What you get
- HMG IS5 Higher Standard particle size
- On-site or in-facility shredding
- Per-drive serial-tied certificate
- Witnessed destruction on request
- All media types — drives, tape, optical, mobile
- Photographic evidence pre-destruction
- Material recovery downstream
- Same-day certificates
Our process
From your office to a certificate.
- 01Step
Log
Each drive recorded by serial number.
- 02Step
Photograph
Pre-destruction image attached to certificate.
- 03Step
Shred
HMG IS5 Higher Standard particle size.
- 04Step
Certify
Per-drive PDF, downstream material report.
Coverage
Watford HQ. Wheels everywhere it matters.
Hertfordshire same-day, London routine, the rest of the UK on a planned schedule. ULEZ-compliant fleet, GPS-tracked, signed manifest at the door.
- ULEZ-compliant
- Vetted drivers
- Signed manifest
- Zero to landfill
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Can't find what you need? Our team replies to every quote enquiry within one working day.
Ask us directlyWhat's the difference between erasure and destruction?
Erasure overwrites and verifies the drive — it's reusable afterwards. Destruction physically shreds the drive to particle sizes that make data recovery impossible. Both are valid; the right choice depends on your risk policy.
What particle size do you shred to?
We default to HMG IS5 Higher Standard — drives shredded to particles small enough to meet UK Government Higher Standard for SECRET-classified material.
Can destruction happen on-site?
Yes. Mobile shredding is available across Watford, Hertfordshire and London for clients who require witnessed destruction on their own premises.
Do you destroy other media?
Yes — backup tapes, optical media, USB sticks, smartphones, server boards, and other data-bearing components. Each item is logged and certified.
What happens to the shredded material?
Shredded material is sent to a downstream metal recovery facility under our WEEE chain. Material recovery rates and the downstream facility are listed on your compliance pack.
Keep going
What to read next.
Got IT to retire? Let's make it good.
A single device or a thousand. We'll quote within 24 hours.