{"id":4775,"date":"2025-10-16T11:56:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T09:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/blog\/destroying-tapes-on-site-safely-quickly-and-according-to-din-66399\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:00:02","slug":"destroying-tapes-on-site-safely-quickly-and-according-to-din-66399","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/blog\/destroying-tapes-on-site-safely-quickly-and-according-to-din-66399\/","title":{"rendered":"Destroying tapes on site – safely, quickly and according to DIN 66399"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Although tapes are used less frequently today than in the past, in many organizations, tape destruction remains an important part of data security and backup strategy. Linear Tape-Open ( LTO) tapes<\/strong> in particular are still widely used for archiving. But what do you do with those old tapes when they have lost their function?
At IT recycling<\/a>, we know exactly how important it is to destroy confidential data for good – and we do it simply on site<\/strong><\/a> at the customer’s premises. <\/p>\n

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Why tapes still exist<\/h2>\n

So many people think tapes are a thing of the past, but nothing could be further from the truth.
The global LTO market is actually showing growth. In 2024<\/strong>, 176.5 exabytes<\/strong> of tape capacity was shipped worldwide – an increase of more than 15%<\/strong> from 2023. The total market value of tape storage is estimated at USD 8.6 billion<\/strong> in 2024, and will grow toward USD 14.8 billion<\/strong> by 2033. <\/p>\n

This is because tapes are extremely reliable, long-lasting and inexpensive per terabyte. So for backups and archives, tape remains a logical choice. <\/p>\n

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The problem: secure destruction of tapes<\/h2>\n
\"Destroying<\/figure>\n

Old tapes often still contain highly sensitive information: customer data, backups, financial data, or complete system copies.
Just throwing it away is absolutely not an option.
Data on a tape is actually indestructible and can be read back for years to come<\/strong> – unless the tape is physically destroyed.<\/p>\n

And that’s exactly where things often go wrong. Many mobile shredders are designed for hard drives or paper, but not<\/strong> for tapes – and certainly not for LTO tapes<\/strong>.<\/a>
LTO tapes have a smooth plastic casing that can jump over teeth of a shredder. Therefore, by no means every shredder<\/a> made for hard drives can also shred tapes. <\/p>\n

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IT Recycling does destroy LTO tapes<\/h2>\n

Most of the tapes we destroy are LTO tapes. Other providers often cannot process these properly: they jam, only cut the tape into long strands or do not meet the proper safety standard.
Our mobile shredder<\/a><\/strong> is specially adapted for this type of media and therefore also lusts LTO tapes without any problem<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

We shred tapes at 9 mm<\/strong>.
That may seem like a small detail, but it makes a big difference.
Instead of long strands or half-torn tape remnants, small, unrecognizable fragments remain. This makes data recovery impossible<\/strong>, and the destruction meets the most stringent requirements of DIN 66399<\/strong> (security class H-5). <\/p>\n

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On-site tape destruction: safe and transparent<\/h2>\n

At IT Recycling, we simply come to your location<\/strong> with our mobile shredder<\/a> truck. Therefore, the tapes do not need to be transported – a significant advantage for organizations with strict data security requirements (such as banks, healthcare facilities and government agencies). <\/p>\n

The tapes are destroyed on the spot in your presence.
Afterwards, you will immediately receive a destruction certificate proving that everything was done according to the rules.
The destroyed remains are then disposed of in an environmentally friendly way to an authorized processor.<\/p>\n

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