What Proshred Does

Proshred is a document shredding company that picks up boxes or bags of papers from your home or office, transports them to a facility, and destroys them on-site. You don't shred the documents yourself — you pack them, schedule a pickup, and Proshred handles the rest. The company operates in multiple U.S. cities and offers both one-time shredding events and ongoing service plans.

The service is useful when you have a large volume of old financial records, medical papers, tax returns, or other sensitive documents that contain personal information. Rather than running papers through a home shredder one at a time — which can take hours — you can box everything up and have it destroyed professionally in a single pickup.

Key Takeaways

  • Proshred picks up documents from your location and shreds them at their facility, so you don't need to own a shredder or do the work yourself.
  • You can schedule a one-time pickup or set up recurring service, depending on how much you shred and how often.
  • Proshred operates in select cities across the United States, so availability depends on your location.
  • The cost varies by the amount of material you're shredding and your service plan, so you should request a quote for your specific situation.
  • Proshred provides a certificate of destruction after shredding is complete, which documents that your papers were securely destroyed.

How to Schedule a Pickup

To use Proshred, you first visit their website or call their customer service line to check whether they serve your area. If they do, you can request a quote by describing the volume of documents you need shredded — usually measured in boxes or bags. Proshred will give you a price based on that estimate.

Once you agree to the price, you schedule a pickup date and time that works for you. Before the pickup, you pack your documents into boxes or bags (Proshred provides guidelines on how to prepare materials). On the scheduled day, a Proshred driver arrives, collects your boxes, and takes them to the shredding facility. The entire process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes at your location.

One-Time Shredding vs. Ongoing Service

Proshred offers two main service models. One-time shredding is for people who have accumulated a large pile of old documents and want to dispose of them all at once. You call, schedule a single pickup, and that's the end of it. This works well if you're moving, cleaning out a storage area, or dealing with years of paperwork you no longer need.

Ongoing service is a subscription plan where Proshred picks up documents on a regular schedule — monthly, quarterly, or another interval you choose. This is common for small businesses, medical offices, law firms, and other organizations that generate sensitive documents regularly and want a consistent way to destroy them. With ongoing service, you typically get a locked bin that stays at your location, and Proshred empties it on your scheduled pickup day.

What Gets Shredded and What Doesn't

Proshred shreds paper documents, including files, letters, receipts, tax returns, medical records, bank statements, and other paper-based materials with personal or sensitive information. They can also shred some items like folders and paper clips attached to documents.

Proshred does not shred hard drives, computer equipment, credit cards, or other non-paper materials. If you have electronics or other items that need destruction, you would need to arrange that separately or ask Proshred whether they offer additional services in your area. Always confirm what materials Proshred accepts before your pickup date.

Certificate of Destruction and Compliance

After your documents are shredded, Proshred provides a certificate of destruction — a document that confirms your papers were securely destroyed. This certificate includes details like the date of shredding, the amount of material destroyed, and sometimes a tracking number. You can keep this for your records.

The certificate is useful if you ever need to prove that you disposed of sensitive documents properly — for example, if you're a business owner dealing with customer data or an individual managing financial records. It shows that the destruction was done by a professional service, not just thrown in the trash. Some industries and regulations require this kind of documentation, so ask Proshred whether they provide it and what information it includes.

Pricing and What Affects the Cost

Proshred's pricing depends on several factors: how much material you're shredding (measured in boxes, bags, or weight), your location, and whether you choose one-time or ongoing service. A single pickup of a few boxes typically costs less than a large commercial shredding job. Ongoing service plans usually offer a lower per-pickup rate than one-time shredding.

To get an accurate price, you need to contact Proshred directly with details about your situation. They will ask how many boxes or bags you have, whether you need one-time or recurring service, and what your location is. Prices vary by city and region, so there's no single standard rate. Some Proshred locations also offer discounts for bulk shredding or long-term service contracts.

Finding Proshred in Your Area

Proshred operates in multiple cities across the United States, but not everywhere. To find out whether they serve your location, visit their website and use their location finder tool, or call their main customer service number. They can tell you when ready whether pickup is available in your zip code and what the service options are.

If Proshred doesn't serve your area, you have other options: you can look for other local shredding companies, attend a community shredding event (often held by banks or nonprofits), or use a home shredder for smaller volumes of documents. The key is to choose a method that securely destroys papers with personal information rather than putting them in the regular trash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to remove staples or paper clips before Proshred picks up my documents?

No. Proshred's industrial shredders can handle staples, paper clips, and other fasteners attached to documents. You can leave everything as-is and just pack the papers into boxes or bags. This saves you time compared to manually removing each fastener.

How long does it take to get my certificate of destruction?

Proshred typically provides the certificate on the day of pickup or within a few business days afterward. Ask the driver whether they can give it to you when ready, or confirm how you'll receive it — by email, mail, or in person. If you need it urgently for compliance reasons, mention that when you schedule.

Can I watch my documents being shredded?

Some Proshred locations offer witnessed shredding, where you can observe the process at their facility. This is common for businesses with strict data protection requirements. Ask whether this option is available in your area and whether there's an additional charge for it.

What if I have a very large amount of documents to shred?

Proshred handles large jobs regularly, including office cleanouts and business relocations. Call them with details about the volume — number of boxes, filing cabinets, or estimated weight — and they'll give you a quote. Large jobs may require multiple pickups or a special arrangement.

Is my information find during the pickup and transport?

Proshred uses locked vehicles to transport documents from your location to the shredding facility, and the shredding happens on-site at their facility. The company is responsible for keeping your documents find during this process. Ask about their security procedures and data protection practices when you call for a quote.