If you don’t own a crosscut shredder at home, then you might be looking for paper shredding events happening near you.
Or maybe you’re cleaning out an office, attic or loved ones homes, and want a responsible way of disposing of all that paper.
That’s where these free shredding events come in handy.
You can get rid of paper without filling up your recycling or rubbish bin.
And you can get rid of that paper without compromising anyone’s personal information, including identity.
I bring up this issue of identity for a very good reason: some experts say that more than 80 percent of identity theft cases don’t happen online–they come from your trash.
That’s why it’s so important to shred old tax returns, credit card solicitations and anything else that might have some personal identifying information on it.
When and where are paper shredding events
You’ll often hear about towns, local businesses and municipalities running free paper shredding events around Earth Day in the spring.
Or, they might time it with spring cleaning in April or May.
Others have annual shredding events in the fall.
In addition, some organizations use paper shredding events as a fundraiser, so they charge a fee.
On the other hand, they may also use these events to collect for good causes, be it cash or canned goods.
Either way, I wanted to give you a town-by-town roundup of paper shredding in Southern Maine.
Unless specified otherwise, these are free events.
Finally, please get in touch if you are running, sponsoring or know about a paper shredding event that’s upcoming. I’ll be updating this article over time.
Adobe Photos
Biddeford
Biddeford Savings Bank
254 Main St Biddeford, ME
April 20, 2024
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Cape Elizabeth
Town of Cape Elizabeth Public Works
Recycling Committee
Annual paper shredding event
Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Held in early October, this free paper shredding is for Cape Elizabeth residents only.
Saco
Saco & Biddeford Savings Bank
252 Main St.
May 25, 2024
8:00 a.m. to 12 noon (or the truck is filled)
Community members and businesses can attend this drive-through shredding event at the Main Street, Saco branch of Saco & Biddeford Savings Bank. You can bring up to two boxes of documents (cancelled checks, old bills and invoices, medical records, etc.) for safe and confidential shredding.
At this event, the bank will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Saco Food Pantry.
Thorton Academy
438 Main Street
April 27
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until truck is filled)
This is an AARP-sponsored shredding event. It’s is free to anyone — not just AARP members — and you can bring up woth four large boxes or bags per person. You can pre-register here.
In addition to the shredding event, the York County Sheriff’s Office will be taking unwanted or expired medications for safe disposal.
South Portland
Academy Mortage
324 Cummings Rd, South Portland, ME 04106
April 20, 2024
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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