Recurring destruction or one-off? Choosing the right frequency
A destruction supplier can be engaged in two ways: one-off on call, or structurally on an agreed rhythm. Both have their place. The choice depends on organisation size, paper flow, archive capacity and how much you value predictability in your compliance cycle. This article sets out the trade-off with practical frequency tips.
What is a recurring schedule?
An arrangement to visit periodically (quarterly, half-yearly, annually) for regular destruction. The client has locked consoles in the office; the supplier comes on fixed dates to empty and destroy the contents.
Advantages:
- Predictable budget.
- No separate planning per job.
- Consoles never overflow.
- Compliance cycle is integrated.
- A fixed supplier knows your organisation.
What is one-off on call?
The client calls when there is something to destroy. No contract, no fixed run. The most common form in SMEs.
Advantages:
- No long contractual tie.
- Cost transparency per job.
- No obligation to collect when there is little to collect.
- Flexible timing: you decide when.
Which frequency suits which organisation size?
Rules of thumb based on paper flow:
| Organisation | Volume per year | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader, small office (1 to 5 staff) | 20 to 100 kg | One-off after year-end |
| Small SME (5 to 20 staff) | 100 to 300 kg | Annually or half-yearly |
| Medium-sized (20 to 100 staff) | 300 to 1,500 kg | Half-yearly or quarterly |
| Larger SME (100 to 500 staff) | 1,500 to 7,500 kg | Monthly or quarterly |
| Large organisations with archive cycle | > 7,500 kg | Monthly plus annual major clear-out |
For estimating your own volume, read how much paper is in a filing cabinet.
Combination model: the best of both
A popular structure in medium-sized organisations:
- Locked consoles in the office for daily flow. Read about locked consoles versus open bins.
- Half-yearly mobile run that empties the consoles.
- Annual major clear-out around year-end for the archive.
- One-off on call for exceptions (relocation, merger).
This model covers regular use, archive build-up and ad-hoc situations without resorting to the most expensive solution per scenario.
Most organisations have one large and one or two small runs per year. Above that, recurring becomes clearly more efficient than one-off.
Predictability versus flexibility
A fixed schedule enforces discipline. You know the truck arrives on 30 September; your archive is ready on 25 September. That suits organisations with a strong compliance cycle, read closing an audit-ready archive.
One-off on call gives flexibility. Want to skip this year because the archive is not yet full? No problem. Want two runs in one quarter because a merger is in progress? Also fine. No contract forcing your hand.
What about contract duration?
Our recurring contracts have a minimum of 12 months, no longer. We see long ties as unnecessary in this segment. One-off is per job, no obligation.
What does it say about your internal organisation?
An organisation that oscillates between overflowing and empty consoles benefits from a fixed rhythm. An organisation whose priorities shift each quarter is better off flexible on call. The choice says something about how predictable your workflow is, not about the supplier.
Recommended approach
- Start one-off. Experience how it works, how many kilos per job, how much hassle.
- After 12 months: evaluate. How many runs did you need? What was the total weight?
- Above 1,500 kg per year or more than 2 runs: consider recurring.
- Below 500 kg per year or rarely: stay one-off on call.
- For major peaks (year-end): combine with a separate larger run.
Start one-off, decide about a schedule later.
We are happy to start with a single job so you can experience the supplier. Based on that experience you decide on any future rhythm.
Request a quoteUnsure about schedule versus one-off? Call or email via desnipperaar.nl. We advise based on your situation, not on contract lock-in.