Paper trail to Shropshire firm's growing success

But most people don't think twice about what happens to confidential waste paper once it is discarded.

Bags, bins and boxes full of the stuff are piled into lorries from schools, offices and businesses and taken to the family-run WN Security Shredding in Shifnal where most of it is pulped to become Nouvelle toilet paper and Thirst Pockets kitchen roll.

Situated on an industrial estate off Lamledge Lane, the business first sorts lorry-loads of the recyclable material. Metal and other materials are removed and recycled before the paper is put onto a towering conveyor belt which heads straight into an industrial size shredder.

It comes out the other side in half tonne bales and when there's a total of 25 tonnes, a company in Derby buys the load, which is worth around £3,000, and takes it to the paper mills where it is made into toilet paper, kitchen roll and tissues.

Since it first opened in 1989, WN Security Shredding has recycled 25,000 tonnes of paper.

It equates to environmental savings of 75,000 cubic yards of landfill, 425,000 trees, 9.5 million gallons of oil, 100 million kilowatts of electricity and 175 million gallons of water.

The company shreds confidential documents and in the last 26 years it has grown and grown.

Managing director Diane Gardner said her family was proud to have made such a big difference.

She said: "Over the years we have changed the route our lorries take so as to reduce our carbon footprint, increased the capacity of paper we can shred so as to save more landfill and set up relationships with more companies so our recycled products can be used more often.

"The nature of our business is recycling so we have made a big difference to the environment.

"But we are still dedicated to constantly analysing the way we work so we can make further improvements."

The recycling business started as Waste Not Want Not Reclamation, with a commitment to recycling paper, glass, cans, cardboard and newsprint.

This soon divided into WN Recycling and WN Security Shredding.

Eventually the demand for data destruction increased so much that WN Recycling was shelved so the family could concentrate on and become experts in the collection and destruction of confidential waste.

Diane added: "Recycling still remains a high priority for us and as such all shredded papers are subsequently baled and delivered to paper mills where they are pulped and recycled into toilet paper and kitchen towel.

"This reduces not only ours but our customers' carbon footprint, making for a greener planet; saving our resources by recycling.

"From office to toilet roll – confidential waste will go from your office to delivery in our factory where it's shredded securely, baled and then shipped off for recycling into toilet rolls and kitchen towels."

The business has remained family-run since its inception in 1989 with family members joining at different stages throughout the years.

Residents and businesses in Shropshire are being urged by the local firm to help save more trees, energy and water by doing something to mark national "Go Green" week, which began on Monday.

The company's assistant manager, Scott Gardner, added: "It is surprising how many businesses just burn their paper waste. This material could be used to be turned into something else.

"More people are thinking about the environment today but there is more work to be done.

"Because we invest so much into the environment and it's a priority of ours to review this so regularly, we have gained a number of certificates for the work we do.

"We have accreditation from the environment agency and we have a 'green mark'.

"But here at WN Security Shredding we want to continue to strive for better and this national week is one way that we can encourage others to do so."