Free Community Paper Shredding Events Aim to Reduce Identity Theft

A new paper shredding trend is making its way around American communities, and it’s bad news for identity thieves.

Community paper shredding events encourage residents to bring personal or household papers to be shredded, making its contents completely indecipherable for would-be thieves.

The Herald-Mail Media reported that the Washington County is the latest area to embrace the free community paper shredding trend.

For a four-hour period on Saturday morning, residents are encouraged to bring their unwanted personal documents for free paper shredding.

Most households have sensitive documents or confidential papers of some description, yet it seems excessive to expect individuals to employ the use of professional paper shredders for one-time shredding to securely dispose of their unwanted confidential items.

Bank statements, old wills, and other unwanted legal documents, and copies of forms with financial or medical details are common items that households hold on to, worried about recycling them or disposing of them in with their general waste.

And they have reason to be concerned, with the Insurance Information Institute reporting that $16 billion dollars was stolen from over 15 million American consumers in 2016 alone, solely as a result of identity theft. That number soars to $107 billion when the last six years are considered.

Paper shredding is an ideal way of disposing of household paper waste, making it impossible for identity thieves to glean any useful information.

The Washington County has asked that households restrict their paper waste to three document boxes for shredding, and suggests that those who take advantage of the free paper shredding service bring a cash or material document for the local humane society.