What is the difference between data wiping and data destruction?

Data wiping uses certified software to permanently overwrite all data on a storage device, making it unrecoverable while keeping the device functional and eligible for reuse or resale. Physical data destruction involves shredding the device itself, making both the data and the hardware permanently unrecoverable. The right choice depends on your security policy and whether you want to recover value from the hardware.

Do you provide certificates of data destruction?

Yes. Every job produces a certificate of destruction or data erasure certificate per device, along with an itemised asset report and chain-of-custody documentation. These are suitable for GDPR compliance records and internal or external audits.

Can I destroy data myself, and what happens to my data if I hand over my equipment?

In theory you can, but formatting a drive or physically damaging a device is not sufficient. Forensic tools can still recover data from drives that appear blank or damaged. When you hand over equipment to us, data is erased first using Blancco certified software before any further processing takes place. You receive a data erasure certificate per device confirming permanent deletion. Where required, physical destruction is available instead. Our full process complies with GDPR and ISO 27001.

Is simply deleting files or formatting a hard drive sufficient?

No. Deleting files or reformatting a drive does not remove the underlying data. Forensic recovery tools can retrieve data from drives that appear empty or reformatted. Certified data destruction, whether by software overwriting or physical shredding, is the only method that provides verifiable, permanent removal.

Can data destruction be carried out at my own premises?

Yes. Our on-site data destruction service brings our engineers and equipment to your location. A member of your team can witness the process if required. On-site destruction is particularly suited to organisations with strict data handling policies that prohibit assets from leaving the premises.

Which compliance standards does your service meet?

Our data destruction services comply with UK GDPR, ISO 27001, DIN 66399 (E5/H5), NIST 800-88, NEN 7510, WEEELABEX and ISO 14001. We are also a Blancco Gold Partner, holding the highest partner certification for Blancco data erasure software.

What happens to the hardware after destruction?

Shredded materials are responsibly recycled through certified partners, with zero landfill. Where devices are wiped rather than physically destroyed, they are assessed for reuse, resale or responsible recycling, supporting your CSRD and sustainability targets.

What is DIN 66399 and why does it matter?

DIN 66399 is the European standard for the destruction of data carriers. Level E5 and H5 requires hard drives to be shredded into particles no larger than 30mm², giving the highest assurance that data cannot be reconstructed. It is increasingly referenced in UK enterprise procurement frameworks.

Is there a minimum number of devices required?

We work primarily with medium to large organisations. Contact us to discuss your volume and we will confirm whether your project falls within our service scope. For IT asset recovery (buyback), a minimum of 10 items is required.

Data Destruction Services | Secure, Certified & Compliant

HomeIT Asset Disposition (ITAD)Data Destruction

Secure, permanent data removal

Data destruction permanently eliminates data from IT equipment so it cannot be recovered by any means. Under UK GDPR, secure disposal of personal data is a legal requirement. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to £17.5 million.

Circular IT group handles the full process: collection, certified destruction and compliance documentation.

Why CITg goes further

Most providers stop at destruction. We go further: where hardware retains value, certified data wiping keeps devices functional for reuse or resale, recovering value while reducing e-waste.

Every service includes a certificate, asset report and full GDPR documentation.

Why certified data destruction matters

Retiring IT equipment without proper data destruction exposes your organisation to serious legal, financial and reputational risk. Here is why a certified service is essential.

GDPR and legal compliance

UK GDPR requires organisations to securely destroy personal data when it is no longer needed. Our certified process and destruction certificates give you auditable proof of compliance for regulators and governance teams

Prevention of data breaches

Deleting files or formatting a drive does not remove the underlying data. Forensic tools can recover information from drives that appear blank. Professional destruction makes data permanently and verifiably unrecoverable.

Reputation and intellectual property

Customer records, business data and intellectual property on end-of-life devices remain at risk until properly destroyed. Certified destruction protects your brand and competitive advantage.

Hardware value recovery

Where devices retain residual value, certified data wiping allows hardware to be reused or resold, turning a disposal cost into a financial return.

Sustainability and CSRD reporting

Where hardware cannot be reused, we ensure certified recycling with zero landfill. Our reporting supports your CSRD impact documentation directly.

Audit-ready documentation

Every job produces a certificate of destruction, itemised asset report and chain-of-custody documentation, everything your compliance team needs for internal and external audits.

Which devices can we destroy or wipe?

We handle a wide range of storage media. If your device is not listed below, contact us and we will advise on the right approach.

Hard Drives (HDD)
Solid State Drives (SSD)
Laptops and Desktops
Servers and Storage Arrays
Smartphones, Tablets and PDAs
Magnetic Tapes
USB Drives and Memory Cards
ID Cards

Request a free quote

Destruction methods

Physical Destruction or Data Wiping?

Choose the method that fits your security policy and whether you want to recover value from the hardware.

Physical data destruction

Best for: highly sensitive data
Using industrial-grade shredders, we physically destroy hard drives, SSDs, tapes, smartphones and other storage media into particles of 6mm or smaller, in line with DIN 66399 standard E5 and H5. The device is rendered completely unusable and data cannot be recovered by any method.

Compliant with DIN 66399 (E5/H5), NIST 800-88, ISO 27001 and NEN 7510
Available on-site at your premises or at our secure facility
Certificate of destruction issued per device
Shredded materials responsibly recycled via certified partners

Hard drive shredding

Certified data wiping

Best for: reuse or resale
Using Blancco certified data erasure software, we permanently overwrite all data on hard drives, SSDs, tapes and mobile devices. Data is irreversibly removed and cannot be recovered, while the device itself remains functional and eligible for reuse, resale or donation.

Blancco Platinum Partner: globally certified erasure software
Compliant with NIST 800-88, ISO 27001, WEEELABEX and NEN 7510
Available on-site or off-site
Erasure certificate issued per device, with serial number tracking

Data erasure service

How our data destruction service works

Call +31 (0) 88 – 990 7500 or fill in the form below to get started.

Make an appointment

Share the specifics about the data you want to destroy, your preferred method of destruction, and specify a date.

On-site destruction

We come to your premises and handle the data destruction on-site. A member of your team can witness the process if required.

Or: pick-up and transport

We pick up your hardware with our own secure transport and take it to our service centre.

Data destruction

Data is permanently destroyed by physical shredding or certified Blancco software erasure, in line with the agreed standard.

Reporting and certificates

You receive a certificate of destruction per device, plus a full asset report. Everything needed for GDPR audits and internal governance records.

When do you need certified data destruction?

Hardware refresh or upgrade

Replacing end-of-life laptops, desktops or servers? Every device leaving your organisation must have its data permanently destroyed, not just deleted or formatted.

Returning leased equipment

Before returning leased hardware, you are legally responsible for secure data removal. Our certified erasure service covers this fully, with documentation for your leasing agreement.

Data Centre Decommissioning

Decommissioning servers, storage arrays or an entire data centre requires a structured, auditable approach. We handle large-scale projects on-site or at our secure facility.

Office relocation or merger

Mergers, acquisitions and office closures generate large volumes of surplus IT. Our service scales to your project with full chain-of-custody documentation throughout.

Hardware resale or donation

Before reselling or donating devices, data must be completely removed. Certified wiping keeps the device clean and legally safe to pass on, while retaining its full value.

Regulatory or security policy

Finance, healthcare and public sector organisations often require physical destruction as a matter of security policy. We provide the certified evidence your compliance team needs.

Destruction for every sector

Circular IT group provides certified data destruction services to organisations across all major sectors in the UK. Regulated industries rely on our certified process, documentation and audit trail.

View all industries we serve

ITAD that goes beyond destruction

While many companies have on-site or off-site data destruction built into their security policies, you’re often still left with surplus or outdated IT that doesn’t actually need to be destroyed.

What if you could recycle these devices instead?

Receive tax advantages, strengthen your CSRD results, and advance digital equality through donation.

Ask about hardware donation

Relevant cases

cases

From corporate IT to community impact with Mace Construct

Mace Construct is a UK-based construction company headquartered in London. Circular IT group has supported Mace Construct for over 10 years with ITAD, laptop reuse and lifecycle management services as a trusted strategic partner. This long-term collaboration enables Mace Construct to securely manage retired IT assets while achieving their carbon reduction and sustainability targets.

cases

From Secure IT Asset Disposal to Community Impact with firmus energy

Discover how Firmus Energy Supply managed secure, compliant IT asset disposal while turning retired IT into meaningful community impact.

cases

How Assuralia helped Digital for Youth donate their 28,000th laptop to charity

How a laptop donation programme helped deliver 28,000 laptops to charity, supporting digital inclusion while reducing e-waste.

All cases

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between data wiping and data destruction?

Data wiping uses certified software to permanently overwrite all data on a storage device, making it unrecoverable while keeping the device functional and eligible for reuse or resale. Physical data destruction involves shredding the device itself, making both the data and the hardware permanently unrecoverable.

The right choice depends on your security policy and whether you want to recover value from the hardware.
Do you provide certificates of data destruction?

Yes. Every job produces a certificate of destruction or data erasure certificate per device, along with an itemised asset report and chain-of-custody documentation. These are suitable for GDPR compliance records and internal or external audits.
Can I destroy data myself, and what happens to my data if I hand over my equipment?

In theory you can, but formatting a drive or physically damaging a device is not sufficient. Forensic tools can still recover data from drives that appear blank or damaged. When you hand over equipment to us, data is erased first using Blancco certified software before any further processing takes place.

You receive a data erasure certificate per device confirming permanent deletion. Where required, physical destruction is available instead. Our full process complies with GDPR and ISO 27001.
Is simply deleting files or formatting a hard drive sufficient?

No. Deleting files or reformatting a drive does not remove the underlying data. Forensic recovery tools can retrieve data from drives that appear empty or reformatted. Certified data destruction, whether by software overwriting or physical shredding, is the only method that provides verifiable, permanent removal.
Can data destruction be carried out at my own premises?

Yes. Our on-site data destruction service brings our engineers and equipment to your location. A member of your team can witness the process if required. On-site destruction is particularly suited to organisations with strict data handling policies that prohibit assets from leaving the premises.
Which compliance standards does your service meet?

Our data destruction services comply with UK GDPR, ISO 27001, DIN 66399 (E5/H5), NIST 800-88, NEN 7510, WEEELABEX and ISO 14001. We are also a Blancco Gold Partner, holding the highest partner certification for Blancco data erasure software.
What happens to the hardware after destruction?

Shredded materials are responsibly recycled through certified partners, with zero landfill. Where devices are wiped rather than physically destroyed, they are assessed for reuse, resale or responsible recycling, supporting your CSRD and sustainability targets.
What is DIN 66399 and why does it matter?

DIN 66399 is the European standard for the destruction of data carriers. Level E5 and H5 requires hard drives to be shredded into particles no larger than 30mm², giving the highest assurance that data cannot be reconstructed. It is increasingly referenced in UK enterprise procurement frameworks.
Is there a minimum number of devices required?

We work primarily with medium to large organisations. Contact us to discuss your volume and we will confirm whether your project falls within our service scope. For IT asset recovery (buyback), a minimum of 10 items is required.

Daan van Nieuwenhoven