30 environment
How confidential is your waste?
Most of us know we have a responsibility under the Data Protection Act 1998 to ensure that data containing information on a living person is processed correctly and disposed of securely when no longer required
However, apart from the obvious, such as medical, legal, personnel and financial records – what other documents should be considered confidential?
It might surprise you to learn that any document, even a scrap of paper with someone’s name scrawled across it is legally protected and must be disposed of correctly.
Recently, several high-profile legal cases have exposed companies that failed to protect the personal data they hold. This has resulted in substantial fines and damage to their reputation – not to mention the irreversible distress of those whose personal details have been lost or stolen.
In addition to the requirements of the Data Protection Act, every business has a commercial responsibility to its customers, stakeholders and employees to manage the secure containment and disposal of sensitive information.
‘Bin Raiding’ is a term used to describe the activity where someone deliberately rummages through
your rubbish on the hunt for confidential data that can be used or sold on. At home this could be a utility bill or bank statement and is generally associated with Identity theft. At work this could literally be anything: an invoice, client/supplier information, financial data; even a letterhead or signature is valuable to a criminal who can utilise it to impersonate your business and fraudulently obtain goods or services in your name which in turn could damage your financial status. Bin raiding is also a method used by unscrupulous individuals who seek out client information from their competitors’ refuse to gain an unfair advantage. And as we all try to be greener, ironically we are making the criminals job easier as more of us separate our paper documents for recycling.
One way we can all safeguard against bin raiding and contravening the requirements of the Data Protection Act is to employ a secure shredding contractor.
Reading-based Select Environmental Services
Oxfordshire company becomes first carbon balanced publication printer
Oxfordshire-based Banbury Litho, has become the first carbon balanced publication printer in the county.
Renowned as much for its progressive thinking as for its technological expertise, Banbury Litho is well aware of its sustainable and corporate responsibility. Managing director Matthew Wise explained: “Since the heightened awareness of global climate change we are living in an increasingly carbon focused economy and it is critical for the future that the whole business community addresses its environmental practices.
“Our aim is to provide an environmentally responsible, sustainable and carbon balanced service and we are dedicated to creating greater awareness of the eco-friendly options available to our customers and suppliers.”
To become a carbon balanced publication printer, Banbury Litho has estimated and balanced (offset) its own unavoidable carbon emissions. As a result the carbon impacts of any job or publication can be estimated, and the carbon balanced publication logo displayed. Carbon is
www.businessmag.co.uk
offset by ecological charity the World Land Trust through purchasing ecologically important standing forests under threat of clearance. These forests lock carbon which would otherwise be released, and then continue to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
By taking this lead Banbury Litho is able to add value to customers and their clients using paper-based communications by reducing environmental and carbon impacts
throughout the value chain. Through the use of the carbon balanced publication logo on their printed material, customers and clients are able to demonstrate their own sustainably responsible behaviour.
Wise said: “Carbon balanced publication is the most recent development in the print industry’s carbon reduction strategy. The timing is perfect as everyone is looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and more and more pressure is on us all to embrace a low-carbon economy.”
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY –MAY 2012
is a UKAS ISO 14001 accredited contractor that specialises in the secure containment, shredding and recycling of all confidential waste. Its certified, cost-effective service is tailored to suit individual requirements and a validated Certificate of Destruction is provided once the waste has been securely destroyed. One-trip data destruction sacks and lockable storage consoles that keep confidential information secure from the moment it is discarded are also available.
Details: John Evans, security waste specialist 0118-9759000
jre@selectenviro.co.uk www.selectenviro.co.uk
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