Controlled Unclassified Information Destruction Services – NAID AAA Certified | Shred Instead
Shred Instead (Shred-Eco, LLC) is a NAID AAA Certified and GSA Schedule contractor (Contract #GS-03F-0023V) providing fully compliant two-step CUI destruction services throughout Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and the Washington D.C. metro area.
What Is Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)?
CUI is unclassified information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls pursuant to Executive Order 13556 and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) CUI Registry. Common examples include personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), export-controlled data, law enforcement sensitive material, and DoD-sensitive technical data.
Approved Destruction Method for CUI
According to NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 and DoD Manual 5220.22-M (NISPOM), simple cross-cut shredding alone is NOT sufficient for most CUI categories. The required method is two-step destruction:
- Step 1: Shred to indecipherable particle size
- Step 2: Further reduce shredded material to pulp (or incinerate)
Shred Instead performs this exact two-step process in our secure, NAID AAA Certified plant for every CUI job.
Our CUI-Compliant Process
- Locked bins placed at your facility (or on-site shredding available)
- Background-checked, uniformed employees
- GPS-tracked vehicles with 24/7 camera surveillance
- Material transported to our NAID AAA Certified plant in Maryland
- Shredded particles sent directly to pulping mill under chain-of-custody
- Certificate of Destruction issued referencing NIST 800-88 and your PO/contract number
Compliance Standards We Meet
- NIST SP 800-171 & 800-88
- DFARS 252.204-7012
- CMMC Level 2+ ready
- ITAR/EAR export-controlled data
- HIPAA / HITECH (PHI)
- NAID AAA Certified for plant-based and mobile operations
Frequently Asked Questions – CUI Destruction
Is shredding alone sufficient for CUI destruction?
No. Most CUI categories require two-step destruction (shred + pulp or incineration) per NIST and DoD policy.
Does cross-cut shredding meet CUI requirements?
Cross-cut shredding by itself does NOT meet the majority of CUI destruction requirements.
Is pulping required for CUI?
Yes – pulping (or incineration) after shredding is the approved final step for paper-based CUI.
Can you destroy CUI on-site?
On-site shredding is available, but final pulping is performed off-site at our secure plant to meet two-step requirements.
Do you provide Certificates of Destruction for CUI jobs?
Yes – every job includes a detailed Certificate of Destruction referencing NIST 800-88 and your contract/PO.
Do you serve Maryland, DC, and North Carolina?
Yes – we are licensed and insured throughout VA, MD, DC, and NC with regular routes in Norfolk, Fairfax, Baltimore, Washington DC, and Surrounding Areas.
