FAQs

AMS Store and Shred FAQs

 What type of Destruction Services do you offer?

Our destruction services include Documents, X-ray Film, Mixed Media – CDs, DVDs, Tapes, Laptops, Hard Drives, Servers, Small Electronics (Computer Keyboard, Mouse etc.), Large Electronics (Computer Tower, Printer, Scanner, Fax Machines, etc.). We also destroy License Plates and accept Lead Aprons.

 What additional services does AMS provide?

Record Storage, Scanning, Digitizing X-rays (Medical and Radiographic).

AMS also offers Medical Waste Hauling www.amsmedwaste.com 

How does your Nationwide Film Recycling & Digitizing Program work?  What types of film are accepted? Is there a minimum volume?  Do you provide a Silver Rebate?

AMS accepts all types of film for NAID AAA Certified destruction & recycling, including, but not limited to: X-ray, Industrial, Lithographic, Dental, Microfilm, Microfiche, Cine and Photographic.  We service any volume, either via secure shipping or on-site services with our highly experienced and vetted Technicians. Silver rebate payment may be available, depending on the weight, silver content and silver market. All film is destroyed prior to recycling - a service very rarely seen across the industry. AMS can also purge all eligible jackets per your retention policy. Ineligible inventory, can be stored at our highly secure storage facility at a very reasonable cost, without any permanent withdrawal charges. X-ray and Industrial film Digitizing is also available for any volume.

 What type of confirmation do I receive once my documents are destroyed?

 AMS provides a Certificate of Destruction to keep for your records.

 How Secure is your Facility?

Our facility in Lake in the Hills, IL has 24/7 closed-circuit surveillance cameras and a key-card access monitored alarm system. Guests are required to be escorted at all times.

 Is your Company NAID AAA Certified?

Yes. We are NAID AAA Certified and compliant with HIPAA / HITECH rules and regulations. A Compliance Report can be found at https://isigmaonline.org

 Are your Service Technicians Vetted and Uniformed?

 Yes. All of our Service Technicians:

• Go thru extensive background screenings prior to being hired and on-going
• Mandatory pre-employment and random drug screenings
• Picture ID badges are required at all times
• AMS logo apparel is required for identification purposes
• AMS provides pictures of AMS service technicians to our clients

 Do you Service both Business and Residential?

 Yes.  We also offer walk-in services.  

 How does your Walk-In Service work?

Customers can drop off documents/media at our 3 Walter Court, Lake in the Hills, IL location.  Hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.  Read more

Do you offer a One-Time Shredding Purge?

 Yes, we do.

 What if I have a very Large Purge and need to clear out an area, can I store my files with you for destruction?

 Yes.  AMS will pick up your boxes and store them in our Secure Facility. When you are ready to destroy the documents, we will take care of that too.

 How do you charge? Per pound or per container?

 We charge per container 

 Do you offer Shredding Bins to use on a daily basis?

Yes. We offer 31 Gallon Locking Consoles and 95 Gallon Locking Totes. AMS Secure Shredding Containers

 How and when does payment happen?

 We invoice after service has been completed.

 What industries do you work with?

We work with all industries.  List includes but not limited to: Medical Offices, Law Offices, Schools, Villages, Engineering, Manufacturing, etc.   Everyone NEEDS secure shredding.

 Do you offer On-Site Shredding?

 No, we do not. Here is why: 

• Expense: Mobile shredding can be more expensive
• Time is a commodity; We are in and out of your way in a fraction of the time
• More Secure. When your shredding is at a plant-based Secure Shredding facility, documents are mixed with other documents in a closed environment. (might be an advantage on windy days)
• Environment Friendly - There is no truck standing idle emitting diesel fumes 

Why should I use your service when I have a shredder? 

• Compliance - If you value your data security and want to ensure the highest standards of compliance for your business it makes a lot of sense to get rid of the office shredders and partner with a professional NAID AAA shredding service.
• Better for the environment – Office shredding typically ends up in the trash and ultimately a landfill.  AMS recycles your shredded documents.
• Human error – Why rely on your employees to decide what and when to shred?  AMS will shred it all and on a set schedule.
• Time is money, productivity is essential in an office. Why take a staff member away from their work to shred documents. Let us do it for you – Securely!
• AMS co-mingles your documents with others, reducing risk 

Do you charge a fuel surcharge? 

Fuel is already built into the price you receive for service. 

Do you charge for a Recycling Recovery Surcharge? Or Ancillary Fees? 

No, no hidden fees. You will recognize every line on your bill.  

Why is Shredding good for the environment: 

• Environmental sustainability is KEY in reducing the negative impact of waste on the environment. Discarded paper builds up in landfills or is destroyed using methods that rely upon environmentally-damaging fuels. By shredding documents, we protect the trees, earth, and atmosphere. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each ton of recycled paper fiber saves:

• 17 trees
• 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space
• 360 gallons of water
• 60 pounds of pollutants
• 10,400 kilowatts of electricity
• Every ton of paper recycled can save the energy equivalent of 165 gallons of gasoline!