Floppy disk destruction
Whale Recycling destroys old floppy disks physically and with certification, including a certificate of destruction. Erasing or throwing them away gives you no certainty that your data really disappears.
You destroy floppy disks by shredding them physically, because erasing or discarding them gives no certainty that the data really disappears. Many organisations still have archive boxes full of old diskettes, packed with personal data or administration from years back. Whale Recycling destroys them securely and provably, drawing on 100 years of recycling experience at Krommenhoek Metals. From 200 kilos we collect free of charge.
Why destroying floppy disks matters for your organisation
An old floppy disk looks harmless, but it is not. Diskettes in a forgotten archive cabinet often still hold readable data: customer records, financial administration or old back-ups. Deleting or formatting is not the same as destroying, because that data can still be recovered with the right equipment.
The GDPR requires you to destroy personal data provably. If you cannot show that during an audit, you risk reputational damage or a fine. Think of municipalities, schools, healthcare institutions or administrative offices with legacy archives. Certified destruction prevents that. Your diskettes are physically destroyed and you receive a certificate that shows exactly what happened.
“An old floppy looks unreadable. To the right equipment, it is not.”
Why a magnet or cutting them up yourself is not enough
The safest way to destroy floppy disks is professional shredding. Doing it yourself is possible, but it falls short for organisations. The popular methods in a row:
- Strong magnet: rearranges the magnetic particles, but gives no verifiable proof and does not always erase everything.
- Cutting or breaking: leaves pieces that can be put back together, which is too risky where sensitive data is involved.
- Burning: dangerous because of harmful fumes and provides no proof of destruction at all.
None of these methods gives you a certificate of destruction. For a few old private diskettes, making them unusable yourself is enough. When it comes to business or privacy-sensitive data, professional shredding is the only route you can demonstrate afterwards.
This is how we destroy your floppy disks
Floppy disk destruction follows a fixed process with us. First we register your batch of data carriers. Then the diskettes go through the shredder, which shreds them to irrecoverable fragments in line with DIN66399-H5. Because both the housing and the magnetic disk are processed, nothing readable remains. The residual material, plastic and metal, is collected separately for recycling. Afterwards you receive a certificate of destruction stating the number of diskettes destroyed and the method used. With that you demonstrate during an audit or CSRD report that your data has been processed securely and permanently. You do not have to do a thing, we take it off your hands.
The floppy disk destruction process at Whale Recycling
1. Registration of your batch
We register your batch of data carriers on arrival, so everything is traceable.
2. Physical shredding to DIN66399-H5
The diskettes go through the shredder and are shredded to irrecoverable fragments. Both the housing and the magnetic disk are processed, so nothing readable remains.
3. Recycling of the residual material
We collect the plastic and metal separately for responsible recycling.
4. Certificate of destruction
You receive a certificate of destruction stating the number of diskettes destroyed and the method used, ready for an audit or a CSRD report.
Hand in floppy disks together with other data carriers
Floppy disks rarely come alone. The same archive cabinet often holds tapes, CDs, USB sticks or old hard drives. All of that can go in a single mixed batch, so you do not have to split anything out or pre-sort. It all falls under our wider data destruction service, with the same certified approach and certificate. Handy too, because it makes it easier to reach the 200 kilos above which we collect free of charge. We also take loose or damaged diskettes, so you are not left with anything.
Request a no-obligation quote
Request a quoteFree collection service and certified processing
Having your floppy disks collected costs you nothing from 200 kilos, anywhere in the Netherlands. We arrange the packaging, the transport and all documentation. Whale Recycling is fully certified: we hold WEEELABEX, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Once we are done you receive the documents you need: a certificate of destruction and a transport document. Everything your records, a security audit or your CSRD report asks for, you can supply straight away. Do you want to have old floppy disks destroyed? Request a no-obligation quote and we will take the rest off your hands.