Township Committeewoman Eileen Lukens (right) poses with a Pro Shred Security worker during a shredding event in September.
Mantua’s bi-annual shredding event will return on Saturday, April 11, at the rear of the township municipal building.
From 9 a.m. to noon, Mantua and Gloucester County residents will be able to drive in and have documents with important information shredded to bits. The service is free and is funded by grant money. The township uses a commercial shredding vehicle, and public works employees and township committee members will be on hand to provide assistance.
About 100 cars are expected.
“It’s a great opportunity for residents to rid themselves of confidential paper documents in a safe, secure and convenient manner,” said Mayor Robert Zimmerman. “As a former police chief, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of properly destroying documents with confidential information such as bank and credit card statements, old checks, loan documents, tax returns and insurance documents – to name a few.”
Participants do not have to exit their vehicles to remove the documents; workers will handle that. They can witness their documents being shredded after they follow certain guidelines around handing them over. They are then recycled and disposed of by the company.
Materials to be shredded are limited to paper only. No plastic – not even plastic bags – is allowed, and neither are cardboard or binder clips. Paper clips and staples are permitted.
Next month’s shred event is the first of two scheduled for the year. The second will take place in on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the same time and place.
“This initiative helps to prevent against identity theft and other crime,” Zimmerman explained, “and at the same time encourages responsible recycling and keeps our community clean.”
