County shredding event scheduled for Saturday, June 17

The shredding event is free and open to residents of Gloucester County.

Gloucester County will hold the 12th annual Big Shredding Event on Saturday, June 17, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Gloucester County Government Complex, 1200 N. Delsea Drive, Clayton.

“We hold this event to provide our residents the opportunity to protect themselves from identity theft by safely and securely disposing of their sensitive documents,” Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said.

“Last year, we had 875 cars pull up throughout the event to dispose of their personal documents,” said Freeholder Lyman Barnes, liaison to the Department of Consumer Protection. “This event is very well organized and residents do not have to worry about waiting in line too long.”

Barnes said that by paying closer attention to how one handles their personal information like old bank statements and credit card bills, one can minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.

The shredding event is free and open to residents of Gloucester County. To ensure all documents are properly disposed of, an industrial size shredder truck will be on site along with the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Department and officials from the Office of Consumer Protection.

Paper will be accepted in boxes and paper bags, documents should be free of large binder clips; staples and paper clips may be left on documents. Plastic bags will not be accepted.

The Big Shredding Event is offered to county residents through a partnership of the Board of Freeholders, County Office of Consumer Protection and the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Department. The shredding will be performed by DocuVault, a Gloucester County company located in Thorofare.

If someone suspects they are a victim of identity theft they should contact their local police department immediately and contact the county Office of Consumer Affairs for personal guidance.

The Big Shredding Event is opened to Gloucester County residents only and each household will be limited to three boxes of documents not to exceed 75 pounds. The event will be held rain or shine and no businesses will be permitted. Residents can call (856) 384–6855 for directions or with questions on what documents can be shredded and the timeline for holding certain others.