Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Document Destruction Services
Sourcing Guide & Market Intelligence
Smarter cost management starts with comprehensive market intelligence
United States
Canada
Europe
Global
Quick Navigation
Document Destruction Services Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Document destruction services include the physical shredding of documents in a secure manner to protect information from theft or abuse. Providers of document destruction services dispose of a range of items, including paper files, DVDs, computer disks and film. Service providers include document management firms that are primarily engaged in data protection and recovery, records management and document destruction services. Key buyers include finance and insurance companies, law firms and government agencies.
This Report Includes:
- Document Shredding
- Paper, DVD, Disk and Film Destruction
- Telephone and Hardcover Book Shredding
Not in this Report:
- Document Storage
- Document Scanning Services
Global Document Destruction Services Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Document Destruction Services market.
Neutral
Crude oil prices dip, but natural gas and fuel prices remain volatile in 2025
- Oil prices have been falling with the introduction of higher tariffs and the predicted decline in global demand. The OPEC+ group of countries also announced they would be unwinding production cuts and increasing their collective output target for May by 411,000 barrels per day.
- Trade wars, ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, and general unrest in the Middle East are causing uncertainty surrounding oil prices, which has led to volatility in prices. In the third week of May 2025, crude oil prices hit $63.67 per barrel, but volatility remains as geopolitical concerns remain.
- Natural gas prices rallied early in 2025 with colder-than-usual temperatures in the United States and high demand, topping out at $4.68/MMBtu in March. Prices have since fallen with the onset of trade wars and weakening demand projections to $3.64/MMBtu in the third week of May 2025.
- The national average of gasoline prices has been rising slightly due to refinery maintenance/outages and blending issues, hitting a national average of $3.15 per gallon in the third week of May 2025. However, gasoline futures have been volatile, falling due to fears of oversupply and deepening concerns about weakening demand with tariffs, but rising after trade deals.
Global Document Destruction Services Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Europe | 850 |
| #2 Oceania & Southeast Asia | 805 |
| #3 India | 795 |
Explore supplier concentration across the globe
We've uncovered the 11 top regions for global procurement, based on feedback from our most strategic clients. Access vendor counts for each unique region when you subscribe.
2
Geography Drilldown - US, Canada & Europe
Average Cost of Document Destruction Services
United States
2026 Market Pricing$10.00 to $XXX.XX
per binCanada
Europe
Average Price
Prices in the Document Destruction Services market range from $10.00 to $XXX.XX, depending on Type of Documents, Volume, Frequency and Location. For example, lower prices are associated with Hard drives, computer disks, USB drive, and other media devices ($5.00 to $50.00 per device), whereas higher prices are associated with Paper documents ($10.00 to $150 per bin).
Need the scoop on international price trends?
Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Document Destruction Services Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Document Destruction Services market, prices in the US have grown 3.7% from 2022 to 2025. and +1.8% in Europe.
United States (2022-2025)
Canada (2018-2021)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Europe (2022-2025)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Wondering where prices are heading?
Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Document Destruction Services
Total cost of ownership is High in the Document Destruction Services market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs. For example, unforeseen costs in the form of Cancellations may raise the total cost of ownership unexpectedly.
Negotiated Before
Transportation
Billed During
Security
Storage
Disposal
Unforeseen
Cancellations
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -1.9 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Recent Price Trend. It is most negatively impacted by Product Specialization. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Canada
Europe
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Medium, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Truck & Bus Manufacturers
- Gasoline & Petroleum Wholesaling
- Copier & Office Equipment Wholesalers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Iron & Steel Manufacturing
- Petrochemical Manufacturing
- Computer Manufacturers
Biggest Document Destruction Services Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Document Destruction Services vendors by revenue in the US are Access Information Management Shared Services, LLC, DataGuard USA LLC and Gilmore Services Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Mountain Inc. | Global | PORTSMOUTH | >10,000 | 20-25 | ||||
| Archive America Inc. | Global | Miami, FL | 25-50 | 5-10 | ||||
| GRM Document Management Inc. | Global | Jersey City, NJ | 251-500 | 5-10 | ||||
| Stericycle, Inc. | Global | BANNOCKBURN, IL | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Access Information Management Shared Services, LLC | National | Waukegan, IL | 501-1,000 | < 5 | ||||
| DataGuard USA LLC | National | Lakewood, CO | 25-50 | < 5 | ||||
| Gilmore Services Inc. | Regional | Pensacola, FL | 25-50 | < 5 | ||||
| Vital Records Control | National | Memphis, TN | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| American Shredding Inc. | National | Phoenix, AZ | 101-250 | < 5 | ||||
Looking for a list of suppliers by country?
Subscribers can access vendor information on Canadian and European suppliers, too. We also offer custom research services to help with vendor sourcing anywhere in the world.
Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Document Destruction Services market is 7.1% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Overhead. The cost trend for this component is falling, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
Large suppliers have healthy profit margins and are very financially stable, while small and midsize vendors generate substantially lower profits due to their relatively narrow portfolios of service offerings and intense market competition. This results in a moderate level of vendor risk on average.
Supply chain risk is moderate, primarily stemming from suppliers' reliance on automobiles and gasoline.
Market share concentration is moderate in the market but has been trending upwards recently, thus decreasing price-based competition in the market.
The United States is a net importer of paper shredding machinery, meaning vendors in this market can access a globally diversified market for this input equipment, limiting supply chain risk and costs.
Supplier Information
Iron Mountain Inc.
Iron Mountain Inc. is a storage and information management services company. It organizes its business into three segments: the Global Records and Information Management segment, which offers records and data management, global digital solutions, secure shredding, and entertainment and media services; the... Subscribe to learn more
Archive America Inc.
Archive America Inc. is a private company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include document storage services, document destruction services and document scanning services. Founded in 1952, the company is currently headquartered... Subscribe to learn more
GRM Document Management Inc.
GRM Document Management Inc. is a private company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include document destruction services. Founded in 1987, the company is currently headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States... Subscribe to learn more
Access Information Management Shared Services, LLC
Access Information Management Shared Services, LLC is a private company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include document destruction services. Founded in 2004, the company is currently headquartered in Peabody, Massachusetts,... Subscribe to learn more
American Shredding Inc.
American Shredding Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include document destruction services. Founded in 2005, the company is currently headquartered in Cranston, Rhode Island, United States of... Subscribe to learn more
DataGuard USA LLC
DataGuard USA LLC is a private company operating nationally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include document destruction services. Founded in 1980, the company is currently headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, United States of America with... Subscribe to learn more
Gilmore Services Inc.
Gilmore Services Inc. is a private company operating regionally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include document destruction services. Founded in 1955, the company is currently headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, United States of America... Subscribe to learn more
PROSHRED Franchising Corp.
PROSHRED Franchising Corp. is a private company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include document destruction services. Founded in 1986, the company is currently headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States... Subscribe to learn more
Stericycle, Inc.
Stericycle, Inc. is a public company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include hazardous waste disposal services, medical waste disposal services, waste incineration services, telephone answering services and document destruction... Subscribe to learn more
Accelerate the vendor selection process
Get a clear picture of the competition in a market and discover which vendors are best-suited for your sourcing needs. Our supplier profiles include hard-to-find financial ranges for private companies, cover public company data and feature an interactive competitor matrix.
Procurement Management KPIs for the Document Destruction Services Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) and Delivery In Full On Time Rate. Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Customer Support and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) |
|
Number of positive customer reviews Number of customer reviews |
A high customer satisfaction rate indicates that the vendor is providing great service, and buyers who have paid for these services before have been satisfied. This indicates that the vendor has good customer service, performs the required tasks quickly and efficiently, and securely manages buyers' documents. |
| Delivery In Full On Time Rate |
|
Number of deliveries and pickups completed Number of deliveries and pickups completed on time |
It is important for the vendor to be able to follow set timelines and complete service in the agreed-upon time frame, so that buyers do not have large amounts of documents waiting to be destroyed on their work sites. Vendors who are unable to provide service in a timely, consistent manner may not be qualified to do the assigned tasks. |
|
|||
Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Quality Control
Have you ever experienced any kind of security breach? If so, how were clients affected?
In the event of a breach, what are your standard operating procedures?
Reputation
Have clients made any major complaints in the past? How have you dealt with these complaints?
What is the average retention rate among your clients?
Service Performance
What are the various stages of your hiring process? What specialized skills do you require your employees to possess?
How do you keep your wage costs under control?
The ultimate prep for procurement negotations
View all 27 negotiation questions for this category when you subscribe.
Document Destruction Services RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should give an overview of their organization, including industry type and number of employees.
Buyers should specify the cities and state(s) where they require document destruction services.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should specify the type(s) of document management services they require (e.g. storage, transportation, secure document destruction, document digitization, etc.).
Buyers need to specify the type(s) of information medium to be destroyed (e.g. paper, CDs, film, DVDs), and whether or not there are strict privacy regulations that require secure handling.
Project Budget
Buyers should specify the total budget for the service.
Buyers should state their preferred pricing model, along with their desired payment terms and frequency.
The RFP process made easy
Find out how you can access RFP templates for 800+ procurement categories to start writing better, more consistent RFPs.
We display average pricing information, trends and market data.
Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
