Free · Businesses & households
Free hard drive destruction in San Antonio.
We sanitize every drive following NIST SP 800-88: SSDs are purged and hard drives are destroyed. It costs you nothing. Businesses can request a free certificate that lists every serial number and the method used.
Questions? Call 210-710-2020 · Drop-offs Tue–Sat, 12–5:30 pm
- Veteran-operated
- Follows NIST SP 800-88
- Every serial number on the certificate
- 4.7 from 88 Google reviews
Why it matters
Deleting files doesn’t erase a drive.
Formatting leaves data behind.
Deleting files or reformatting a drive removes the index, not the data. Free recovery software can often bring it back.
We purge SSDs and destroy hard drives, so the data can’t be recovered.
Shredding services charge per drive.
Per-drive fees, trip charges and a separate fee for the certificate add up fast on an office refresh.
Drive destruction is free with us, certificate included.
Someone will ask for proof.
An auditor, an insurer or a client may want to know what happened to the drives that held their records.
Your certificate lists every serial number and how each drive was handled.
How it works
Counted, sanitized, documented.
Every drive is sanitized the same way, whether it’s one laptop or a closet full of servers. When you request a certificate, each drive is also recorded by serial number.
Recorded
For a certificate, we record the serial number of each drive.
Sorted by type
SSDs and hard drives are separated, because NIST 800-88 handles them differently.
Purged or destroyed
SSDs are purged. Hard drives are physically destroyed.
Documented
Your certificate lists each serial number and the method used on that drive.
NIST SP 800-88
Why SSDs are purged and hard drives are destroyed.
NIST Special Publication 800-88, the U.S. government’s guidelines for media sanitization, describes three levels: clear, purge and destroy. Clearing overwrites data with ordinary tools. Purging uses techniques that make recovery infeasible even in a lab. Destroying makes the drive physically unusable.
Hard drives store data on spinning platters, so physical destruction is the most reliable option. SSDs spread data across flash chips and keep spare areas that an overwrite can miss, so they’re purged using methods built for flash storage.
NIST publishes guidelines. It doesn’t audit or approve companies, so look for a provider that explains how each type of drive is handled.
EXAMPLE · CERTIFICATE OF DATA DESTRUCTION & RECYCLING
Serial · Media · Method
WD-WX81A7•••• HDD 3.5″ Destroyed
S4EVNX0N•••• SSD 2.5″ Purged
Z9A2K1•••• HDD 2.5″ Destroyed
Every drive listed, with the date and method
Example only. Your certificate lists your own drives.
Who we help
Drive destruction for offices that keep sensitive records.
Medical and dental offices
Old workstations and imaging PCs hold patient records. You get documentation of every drive for your records. See computer disposal for medical offices.
Law firms and accountants
Client files don’t stop being confidential when a laptop is retired. Request a certificate and each drive is listed by serial number. See computer disposal for law offices.
IT providers and MSPs
Retiring hardware for clients? We handle the drives and give you serial-level paperwork you can pass along. See recycling for MSPs and IT providers.
Two ways to get it done
Free pickup for businesses, free drop-off for everyone.
- Free on-site pickup for 20 or more units, Monday to Friday
- Free drop-off at our shop, Tuesday to Saturday, 12:00 to 5:30 pm
- Whole computers, laptops, servers or loose drives
- Free Certificate of Data Destruction & Recycling for businesses, on request
- Households welcome: destruction is free, and a certificate is $15 for the first device and $5 for each additional device
Fewer than 20 units? A small pickup fee may apply to cover the truck, or you can drop off for free.
Recycling the rest of the equipment too? See free computer recycling in San Antonio, or our electronics disposal guide for where everything else goes. Clearing out a whole office? See business e-waste pickup and server and network equipment recycling.
FAQs
Common questions about hard drive destruction.
Is hard drive destruction really free?
Yes, for everyone. There’s no per-drive fee, and businesses get the certificate free. The only possible costs are a small pickup fee for businesses with fewer than 20 units, and an optional certificate for households: $15 for the first device and $5 for each additional device.
Does NIST approve data destruction companies?
No. NIST publishes guidelines but doesn’t audit or approve companies. We follow NIST SP 800-88: SSDs are purged, hard drives are destroyed, and the method is recorded for each drive.
What’s on the certificate?
A Certificate of Data Destruction & Recycling lists every drive by serial number, along with the method used on it. It’s free for businesses on request. Households can add one for $15 for the first device and $5 for each additional device, paid at drop-off and emailed to you as a PDF.
Do you destroy SSDs too?
Yes. SSDs are purged following NIST 800-88, using methods built for flash storage. Hard drives are physically destroyed.
Can I bring in just the hard drive?
Yes. Loose drives are fine, and so are whole computers, laptops and servers. Drop them off Tuesday to Saturday, 12:00 to 5:30 pm, with no appointment.
What about phones and tablets?
Phones and tablets go through secure data destruction too. See what we recycle.
How do I schedule a business pickup?
Request a pickup online or call 210-710-2020 with roughly how many devices you have. Pickups are scheduled Monday to Friday and are free for 20 or more units.
More questions? See the Alamo Geeks FAQ.
Visit the shop
Drop off your drives near the airport.
11503 Jones Maltsberger Rd, STE 1138
San Antonio, TX 78216
Tue–Sat · 12:00–5:30 pm
Sun & Mon · Closed
No appointment needed for drop-offs. Business pickups are scheduled Monday to Friday.