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 1, 2023
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Buxton
Partners Bank
254 Long Plains Road
Twice a year all Partners Bank locations have a free shred week. It’s usually in April and October. This includes the Buxton branch.
Cape Elizabeth
Town of Cape Elizabeth Public Works
Recycling Committee
Annual paper shredding event
Held in early October, this free paper shredding is for Cape Elizabeth residents only. I will update this section once I know the 2023 date, time and location.
East Waterboro
Partners Bank
Waterboro Crossing Shopping Center
40 Sokokis Trail
Twice a year all Partners Bank locations have a free shred week. It’s usually in April and October. This includes the East Waterboro branch.
Kennebunkport
Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club
Fire Station
32 North St
April 22, 2023
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This is an annual paper shredding event.
However, it’s not free.
This is a fundraiser for the Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club so they charge $5 per bag and $10 per box of material to be shredded.
Limerick
Partners Bank
32 Central Avenue
Twice a year all Partners Bank locations have a free shred week. It’s usually in April and October. This includes the Limerick branch.
Portland
WGME CBS 13 News
81 Northport Dr.
April 28
6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Each year, at the end of April, TV station WGME CBS 13 holds a free paper shredding event. Last year they shredded more than 30,000 pounds of paper.
Sanford
Partners Bank
900 Main Street
Twice a year all Partners Bank locations have a free shred week. It’s usually in April and October. This includes the Sanford branch.
South Sanford
Partners Bank
1459 Main Street
Twice a year all Partners Bank locations have a free shred week. It’s usually in April and October. This includes the South Sanford branch.
South Portland
City of South Portland
April 15, 2023
9 a.m. to 12 p.m
The event occurs in the parking lot of the main branch of the South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway.
You will be limited to two containers of items to be shredded.
Finally, the library asks that you bring a food donation for the South Portland Food Cupboard, too.
This is an annual event that The South Portland Public Library sponsors.
In 2023, they partnered with Bath Savings Bank for a free, community paper shredding on.
Saco & Biddeford Savings Bank
In May 2022, Saco & Biddeford Savings Bank held a free paper shredding event at the South Portland branch.
I’ll keep you posted if they’ll be offering it again in May 2023.
Springvale
Partners Bank
484 Main Street
Twice a year all Partners Bank locations have a free shred week. It’s usually in April and October. This includes the Springvale branch.
Wells
Partners Bank
1149 Post Road
Twice a year all Partners Bank locations have a free shred week. It’s usually in April and October. This includes the Springvale branch.
York
Partners Bank
408 US Route 1
Twice a year all Partners Bank locations have a free shred week. It’s usually in April and October. This includes the York branch.