With identity theft crimes continuing to be a major concern throughout the nation, people continue to seek a safe, economical, and environmentally-friendly means of destroying personal data and documents. Recycle Ann Arbor is offering two, free secure document shredding events in 2010. Both events are open to all residents and businesses in Washtenaw County and are being co-sponsored by Allshred Services.

Customers may bring up to 100 pounds of paper for shredding to each event, and all shredded paper will be recycled. One hundred pounds of paper is approximately three standard banker's boxes.

The first event will be held on Saturday, May 22, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Calvert's Roll-Off Containers. Calvert's, operated by Recycle Ann Arbor, is located at 7891 Jackson Road, just west of Baker Road. This marks the first time that Recycle Ann Arbor has offered a shredding event on the city's west side.

The second event will take place on Saturday, October 2, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station, located at 2950 E. Ellsworth Road in Ann Arbor, just west of Platt Road. Customers who are only participating in the free document shredding event and not using the Drop-Off Station for recycling or disposal will not be charged the $3 Drop-Off Station entry fee.

Customers with more than 100 pounds of paper to be shredded may make arrangements directly with Allshred Services (800-227-4733 or www.allshredservices.com). The quantity limit is necessary to ensure that as many customers as possible are able to participate.

"Recycle Ann Arbor is pleased to continue to offer free secure shredding events to our customers for the third year in a row, as secure document shredding is still one of the most frequently-requested services," said Recycle Ann Arbor CEO Melinda Uerling. "With the support of our new partner, Allshred Services, we hope to serve even more customers than we were able to during past events."

Not able to make either of those dates? Pittsfield Charter Township is holding a free shredding event on Saturday, June 26, at the Administration Building located at 6201 W. Michigan Ave., at the corner of Platt Road. For more information, visit www.pittsfield-mi.gov.

Finally, Washtenaw County will also hold a free shredding event on Saturday, September 25, at its Western Service Center, located at 705 N. Zeeb Road, just north of Jackson Road. For more information, visit http://recycle.eWashtenaw.org.

For more information about Recycle Ann Arbor's shredding events, please call
734-662-6288, or visit Recycle Ann Arbor on the Web at: www.recycleannarbor.org.

Jean Brown is the Communications Manager for Recycle Ann Arbor, and will be doing a lot of secure document shredding this year. She can be reached at jbrown@recycleannarbor.org.

Your World provides local environmental information to our community. Contributing partners include: Washtenaw County's Environmental Health Division; the non-profit Recycle Ann Arbor; the City of Ann Arbor's Public Services Area, Natural Area Preservation, Systems Planning programs for Energy, Environmental Coordination, Solid Waste, Transportation, and Water Resources.