Backup Tape Destruction Service
Free, certified shredding of LTO, DAT, DLT and legacy backup tapes — with barcode capture, GPS-tracked collection and a signed Certificate of Destruction for every job.
Why physical destruction is the only defensible option
Tapes are built to survive decades. That's the whole point — and the exact reason they need to be shredded rather than wiped when their data reaches end-of-life.
Tape can't be wiped reliably
Magnetic tape can hold decades of legacy backups. Overwriting is impractical and degaussing rarely leaves an audit trail — physical shredding is the only defensible route.
Shredded, not just crushed
Cartridges are broken down and the magnetic media is shredded at our secure facility — not simply bent, snapped or bulk-crushed on a lorry.
Certificate per barcode
We capture every barcode / cartridge label before destruction and issue a Certificate of Destruction with a full itemised manifest.
Chain of custody
GPS-tracked collection, signed uplift notes, CCTV-monitored facility and vetted staff — a defensible trail from your tape library to the shredder.
Tape formats we destroy
From current LTO libraries to boxes of legacy cartridges gathering dust in a comms room — we handle it all.
Standards we work to
Built for regulated industries — finance, legal, healthcare, government and beyond.
How the service works
A four-step process built around your compliance requirements — with a chain of custody from your tape library to the shredder.
Book collection
Tell us cartridge counts, formats and site postcode. We'll bring lockable transit crates if you need them.
Barcode capture
Every cartridge is scanned and logged against your job reference before it leaves your site.
Secure transport
Tapes travel in GPS-tracked vehicles under signed chain of custody to our processing facility.
Shred & certify
Cartridges are shredded, the metal & plastic is WEEE-recycled, and you receive a signed certificate & manifest.
Every cartridge logged. Every certificate signed.
We capture the barcode of every cartridge we destroy and issue a signed Certificate of Destruction you can hand to auditors, DPOs and insurers — free of charge, every time.
Frequently asked questions
How much does backup tape destruction cost?
It's free. Byebyte funds destruction through the responsible recovery of raw materials — including the metal, plastic and residual materials from your cartridges — so there's no charge for collection, shredding or certification.
Can't I just overwrite or degauss my tapes?
In practice, no. Overwriting LTO and legacy formats is slow, error-prone and rarely produces a defensible audit trail. Degaussing works but leaves the cartridge intact with no visible proof. Physical shredding is the standard for regulated data and the method most auditors expect.
What tape formats do you handle?
All common and legacy formats — LTO-1 through LTO-9, DAT/DDS, DLT/Super DLT, AIT, T10000, 3592, 9840, VXA, Travan and older 8mm/4mm cartridges. If you have something unusual, get in touch.
Do I get a certificate for each tape?
You get one Certificate of Destruction per job, backed by an itemised manifest listing every cartridge barcode or label destroyed. That's the format auditors, DPOs and insurers expect.
Do you collect nationwide?
Yes. Free collection from anywhere in the UK — from single boxes of legacy tapes to full library decommissions.
How quickly can you destroy urgent tapes?
We typically collect within 2–5 working days, with same-week slots for urgent decommissions, office moves and data-centre exits.
Ready to clear out your old IT?
Free collection, secure data destruction, zero to landfill. No minimums, no cost — just get in touch.