Blue-Pencil Document Management

09/22/2026

Where do your documents actually go after you drop them off for shredding?

Retail shredding services can be convenient, but the company accepting your documents isn't always the company that destroys them.

Before choosing a shredding service, consider:

🔹 Who actually shreds the documents?
🔹 Where are they stored before destruction?
🔹 Are they transported somewhere else?
🔹 How quickly are they destroyed?
🔹 Is a Certificate of Destruction available?

We've updated our comparison of Staples, UPS and professional shredding services to look at cost AND what happens to your documents after you hand them over.

Read the comparison: https://zurl.co/z0qXK

09/09/2026

A home shredder can work well for a few documents.

But what if you have an entire box? Or several?

Once paper starts piling up, shredding everything yourself can become time-consuming. Retail drop-off services may also charge by the pound.

We've updated our guide to the different ways you can shred documents, including home shredders, Staples, community shred events and professional shredding services.

See which option makes the most sense for the amount you have:
https://zurl.co/R5oM0

08/25/2026

Got old documents piling up at home?

There are more ways to get rid of them securely than you might think.

You can:
• Use a home shredder
• Drop them off at an office supply store
• Attend a community shred event
• Use a professional drop-off shredding service
• Arrange mobile shredding at your home

We break down the pros, cons, costs and security considerations of each option so you can choose what makes the most sense.

Read the guide:
https://zurl.co/G0yON

08/19/2026

Deleting a file doesn't always mean the data is gone.

Formatting a USB drive or clearing an old device can feel like the end of the data lifecycle. But when storage media is no longer needed, businesses also need to consider how the physical device itself is managed and disposed of.

USB drives, SSDs, backup tapes and other small storage devices often fall outside traditional IT asset processes — creating a data destruction gap many businesses don't realize they have.

Our blog looks at the forgotten media businesses should be checking and a simple process for managing end-of-life devices.

Read more: https://zurl.co/X6Td9

USB drives, SSDs and old devices can hold sensitive data long after use. Learn how to find, manage and securely destroy forgotten storage media.

08/14/2026

How much does it actually cost to shred a box of documents?

We recently updated our comparison of shredding costs at Staples, The UPS Store and Blue-Pencil, and the difference can be significant.

For example, a 30 lb box at Staples' current rate of $1.49/lb works out to about $44.70.

The same standard box dropped off at Blue-Pencil is $20, regardless of weight.

Price isn't the only consideration. We also look at how each service works, chain of custody, secure storage and what happens to your documents after you drop them off.

See the updated 2026 comparison:
https://zurl.co/pEgGs

07/29/2026

Is business a little quieter during the summer months?

With employees taking vacation and schedules sometimes slowing down, summer can be a practical time to tackle records projects that are difficult to prioritize during busier periods.

Review stored records. Identify documents that have reached the end of their retention period. Clear out outdated files. Arrange secure destruction for information you no longer need.

The projects that sit on the to-do list all year are often easier to manage when there's a little more room in the schedule.

If a records clean-out is on your summer list, Blue-Pencil can help you manage the process securely and efficiently.

07/21/2026

Do you know what customer information your business still has and whether you still need it?”

That’s becoming a much more important question under Canada’s evolving privacy laws.

Bill C-15 is now law, and broader reforms around privacy penalties, consent, and AI governance are expected to follow.

For Ontario businesses, this isn’t just an IT issue anymore. It’s an operational risk issue.

In our latest blog, we explain:
• What Bill C-15 actually changes
• Why privacy reform keeps stalling
• How secure destruction supports compliance
• 3 practical actions businesses should take now

Read more: https://zurl.co/LyvNq

07/15/2026

When was the last time your business checked its office drawers and IT cupboards for old data storage devices?

USB drives, SSDs, old phones and backup media can sit forgotten for years — potentially still holding sensitive information.

Our latest blog explains why small data-bearing devices often fall outside normal IT disposal processes and how a simple quarterly audit can help close the gap.

Read more: https://zurl.co/LWCqs

USB drives, SSDs and old devices can hold sensitive data long after use. Learn how to find, manage and securely destroy forgotten storage media.

07/07/2026

“Just keep everything” is not a compliance strategy.

Holding personal information longer than necessary can actually violate PIPEDA — and increase your risk during a breach or audit.

We put together a practical retention schedule guide to help Canadian SMBs understand:
✔ What to keep
✔ How long to keep it
✔ When to securely destroy it

A simple system now can prevent major headaches later.

Read the guide:
https://zurl.co/ofEBY

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07/01/2026

Happy Canada Day from all of us at Blue-Pencil 🍁

Today we’re celebrating the businesses, communities, and people we’re proud to support across Canada every day.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Canada Day.