How to Shred Documents With Staples, Paper Clips, and Binder Clips

One of the most common questions New York businesses ask before their first professional shredding service appointment is: “Can you shred documents with staples, paper clips, and binder clips still attached?” It’s a practical concern — removing fasteners from hundreds or thousands of documents before a shred day sounds like an enormous chore. The good news is that professional, industrial-grade shredding equipment is designed to handle most common document fasteners without any preparation required on your part.

But there are important distinctions. While professional shredding services accept staples and most paper clips, there are some materials that should be removed before documents enter a shred console or are delivered to a shred truck. Understanding these distinctions helps New York City businesses, Long Island organizations, and Westchester County offices prepare their documents correctly — and ensures a smooth, fast shredding process on the day of service.

Can You Shred Documents With Staples? Yes — and Here’s Why

If you’ve ever tried to shred a stapled document through a consumer-grade home shredder, you’ve probably experienced the grinding noise and potential paper jam that results. Industrial shredding equipment is fundamentally different. Commercial-grade cross-cut and strip-cut shredders used by professional document destruction companies are engineered to handle staples without issue.

Here’s what happens to staples in professional shredding:

• The shredder’s hardened cutting blades are designed to process metal fasteners alongside paper
• Staples and other small metal pieces are typically separated from the shredded paper in a downstream screening process
• The remaining paper material is still destroyed to a secure particle size that meets or exceeds NAID and regulatory standards
• Metal fragments are recycled separately as part of the vendor’s processing chain

This means you do not need to remove standard office staples from documents before placing them in a locked shred console or preparing them for a shred day event. This applies to both single staples and multiple-staple bound documents like reports and presentations. Explore our shredding services to learn more about what our industrial process handles.

Paper Clips — Standard and Large

Standard metal paper clips — the basic bent-wire variety found in every office supply drawer — are generally acceptable in professional shredding loads. Like staples, they pass through industrial shredding equipment without causing damage or disruption. The same applies to:

• Standard-size paper clips (approximately 1.25 inches)
• Large or jumbo paper clips (approximately 2 inches)
• Double-loop paper clips
• Butterfly or foldback clips (binder clips) in smaller sizes

That said, best practice when preparing a large document purge for your NYC office is to confirm with your specific vendor. Some vendors prefer that very large metal clips be removed simply to maximize shredding efficiency, while others are equipped to handle all sizes without preparation. New York Shredding can advise on preparation guidelines when you schedule your service.

Binder Clips and What to Remove

Binder clips occupy a middle ground. Small and medium binder clips (sometimes called bulldog clips) attached to a few pages are typically processable by industrial shredders. However, large binder clips — particularly those used to hold thick document bundles — are best removed before shredding. This isn’t because they damage the shredder, but because:

• Very large clips can slow the feeding process and reduce shredding efficiency
• Removing them allows you to reuse the clips, which have significant resale value at scale
• Separating thick bound bundles helps ensure complete and uniform document destruction

When preparing for an office shred day in New York, a reasonable rule of thumb is: remove binder clips larger than 1.5 inches (size 5 or higher), but leave everything smaller attached. This small preparation step takes minimal time and helps the service run smoothly.

What Should Never Go in a Shred Console or Shred Bin

While staples and most paper clips are fine, certain materials should be kept out of shred consoles and shred bins entirely. These items can damage equipment, create safety issues, or contaminate the shredded paper stream:

• Three-ring binders with metal rings: The ring mechanism itself is not processable. Remove documents from binders before placing in the shred console.
• Plastic report covers and presentation folders: Plastic materials interfere with paper processing and should be removed.
• Spiral-bound notebooks: The metal or plastic spiral binding must be removed before shredding.
• Rubber bands: These wrap around shredder components and should be removed before documents are deposited.
• Hanging file folders with metal rail inserts: Remove the metal hanging rail and plastic tabs before depositing in the shred bin.
• Cardboard backing boards: Thick cardboard beyond normal folder weight should not be included in document shredding loads.
• Non-paper items: Keys, USB drives, ID badges, X-rays, and other non-paper materials should be handled through appropriate separate channels — including specialized media destruction services for hard drives and electronic storage.

When in doubt about whether a specific item is acceptable, check with your shredding provider before depositing it in a console.

Preparing Documents for a Large Shred Day Event

If you’re organizing a significant document purge for your New York City, Long Island, or Westchester office, a small amount of preparation makes the shred day go significantly faster. Recommended preparation steps:

1. Remove documents from three-ring binders and spiral notebooks
2. Remove rubber bands from bundled document stacks
3. Remove hanging file rail inserts from folders (the paper folders themselves can stay)
4. Remove large binder clips (size 5 and above)
5. Leave standard staples, paper clips, and small/medium binder clips in place
6. Place prepared documents in standard banker boxes — most vendors prefer these for large purge events

You do not need to count pages, remove paper from file folders, or sort by document type. A professional shredding service handles mixed document loads efficiently. Review our service process and pricing options to plan your purge event. Contact New York Shredding to schedule service for any size purge across the New York metro area.

Why New York Businesses Choose New York Shredding

For over a decade, New York Shredding Document Destruction, Inc. has helped businesses across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley protect their sensitive information through certified, HIPAA-compliant shredding services. Our industrial-grade shredding equipment, locked on-site consoles, and Certificate of Destruction give your business the proof it needs for any compliance audit.

Whether you need scheduled shredding, a one-time purge, or hard drive destruction, we serve all five boroughs and surrounding areas with fast, reliable service. Request a free quote today and get your office on a shredding schedule that keeps you protected year-round.

Ready to get started? Contact New York Shredding for a free quote, or explore our full range of shredding services.