Spokane-based DeVries Business Records Management Inc., which does business as DeVries Business Services, now is offering a new eco-friendly product with its shredding services, called the Seal ‘n Shred bag.

Located at 601 E. Pacific, DeVries is perhaps best known for its secure on-site document destruction services, which include thoroughly shredding documents, mixing and baling them, and sending the remains to be made into recycled materials.

Devries also offers records and information management services, including both physical records stored in warehouses and digital information stored on hard drives, phones, and other devices. The company also provides customers with assistance in privacy and nondisclosure laws, as well as secure courier services, document tracking, and professional office moves.

DeVries’ President and CEO Patrick DeVries says the new Seal ‘n Shred bag was created by one of the company’s vendors, All Source Security Container MFG Corp., a Canadian company that makes similar products for document collection and recycling. 

“These bags are made from a biodegradable material, making them easy-to-use and completely recyclable,” he says. “A lot of people want to recycle paper, but they also want to make sure information printed on that paper is destroyed first.” 

DeVries’ shredding services usually require commercial customers to have a secure collection container, which they can schedule to have emptied using mobile shredder trucks on-site at their office location. Residential customers have the same on-site destruction option, or they may arrange to drop off documents at a DeVries location. 

DeVries says the new bags can be used by commercial and residential customers in the same way, but their smaller size means fewer trucks sent to collect small amounts of shredding, less mess, and added confidentiality.  

“Clients fill and seal each bag beforehand, so when we receive it, we don’t see the contents at all. We just shred the whole thing,” he says. “This adds an extra level of security along with convenience.”

Founded here in 1985, DeVries Business Services currently employs 40 full-time workers, and its service area includes Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and parts of western Montana and northeast Oregon.

Last year the company acquired a two-story, 44,000-square-foot warehouse at 1015 N. Dyer Road to expand its commercial records center. The company currently occupies 140,000 square feet of secure warehouse space in three buildings. 

DeVries says the company continues to grow into its warehouse space and explore more opportunities to expand its services.

“Demand for services like ours has increased,” he says. “Our clients in the medical, legal, and financial industries have to comply with strict standards for storage and disposal of information.”