FLORENCE – Burlington County residents have three more opportunities to safely dispose of confidential documents and plastic wrap this year at the county’s upcoming fall document shredding events.
Plastic drink carriers, also known as “handles,” are also collected during shredding operations.
The first events will be held on Sunday, September 8th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex, 22000 Burlington-Columbus Road in Florence. Two additional events will be held on October 13th and November 10th at the same location and time.
At all three events, residents can recycle confidential documents such as bank and credit card statements, tax returns and other papers containing sensitive information such as account and social security details.
This year, the district’s residents have already recycled over 26,000 kilograms of paper during our shredding campaigns in March and May, in which over 1,900 residents took part.
“Burlington County is pleased to offer free programs like this one that allow our residents to dispose of financial papers and confidential documents in a safe and environmentally friendly manner,” said Felicia Hopson, Burlington County District Administration Director. “This is a great service provided by the County that promotes recycling and sustainability.”
Shredding is for residents of Burlington County only (outside county residents, businesses and non-profit organizations will be turned away) and only confidential documents will be accepted. Magazines, junk mail and household trash will not be accepted, nor will binders, plastic folders, computer disks or plastic credit cards.
An ID is required. A maximum of four bags or boxes of paper, each weighing 10 pounds or less, may be carried. Please place them in the trunk or cargo area for easy removal by staff. Already shredded paper is accepted.
During the shredding campaigns, the district also collects clean and dry bubble wrap, shipping bags and plastic wrap from water and paper packaging. These materials must be packaged separately from paper and must be dry and free of food residue.
A new county initiative will also collect the plastic PakTech beverage containers, which hold aluminum beer, soda and seltzer cans. The containers are recyclable but should not be thrown in curbside recycling bins because the machines at the county recycling center cannot sort them. Residents are asked to bring their used plastic containers to the Recovery Complex during shredding events or during regular recycling center hours on weekdays and Saturdays. The containers should be wrapped separately from paper and plastic wrap.
The plastic sheets are recycled through a county partnership with Trex, a Virginia-based company that makes composite decking and railings from recycled plastic. Beverage carriers are recycled by the county and sent to factories where they are made into new handles and other plastic products.
During the county’s two spring shredding events, over 260 pounds of plastic film material was collected.
“Every pound of paper and plastic we properly recycle saves landfill space and taxpayer dollars that municipalities spend on disposal fees,” said Tom Pullion, Burlington County County Commissioner and liaison to the Solid Waste and Recycling Division. “Last year, Burlington County residents helped recycle more than 82 million pounds of recyclable waste, saving our municipalities nearly $3.9 million in additional fees, so we encourage residents to continue to take advantage of these free shredding events.”
Courtesy of Burlington County
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