Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Protecting one’s identity will be a bit easier when it comes to getting rid of old documents, thanks to Aroostook Shredding offering free shredding services to the general public as part of a national consumer awareness initiative on Saturday, Sept. 20. “Our shredding facility will offer free shredding from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday,” said Susan Smith, program director.
Smith said identity theft is a growing problem – a problem individuals can help eliminate by properly disposing of unwanted documents.
“All it takes is one credit card slip falling in the wrong hands and a person’s credit can be destroyed. People throw so many things in regular trash without thinking – things like checkbook deposit slips when they’ve used all their checks. But those deposit slips have the same routing numbers and bank account numbers as the checks and can be misused if the wrong person gets them,” she said.
Smith said all paper received at the business is shredded on site, then baled and shipped south to be recycled.
“The bales go to a mill where they paper is soaked and then processed into new paper. We don’t sell bales to individuals or businesses. There’s no chance of material being put back together. This stuff gets processed and made into new paper,” said Smith. “Everything leaves the recycling center under a secure process. We have security cameras. Everything stays here until its shipped to be turned into recycled paper. And it stays right here in Maine – none of it goes out of state.”
On Saturday, Aroostook Shredding will join over 120 other secure shredding companies across the country that are providing free shredding services to the general public during an event that will highlight the importance of protecting discarded personal information.
According to Robert Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Information Destruction, “studies have shown that most identity thieves obtain personal information they use to commit their crime from low-tech sources such as dumpster diving. Law enforcement agencies across the country at all levels strongly recommend that personal information be destroyed before it is discarded.”
“Aroostook Shredding is doing a great public service by providing this service free as a means of promoting secure destruction throughout the year,” said Johnson.
Members of the public may bring up to 25 pounds of personal material which will be destroyed, free of charge. For larger amounts, contact Smith to set up an appointment.
“We also provide pickup service,” she said.
The date of the event coincides with Secure Your ID Day, a secure shredding event being co-sponsored across the country by NAID. The event is open to anyone, businesses or individuals.
In addition to paper, Aroostook Shredding is capable of destroying such things as credit cards and pill bottles.
“And you don’t have to remove staples, elastics or paperclips. The machine grinds everything,” said Smith. “You’d be surprised how much information a person can get off a pill bottle – prescription numbers, dates of birth, names, addresses. People don’t think of that when they discard an empty medicine bottle.”
Smith said the service is especially important for those with senior family members.
“Relatives pass away and there’s often so much material to discard. People pass away and loved ones have so much personal information they no longer need. But if account numbers fall into the wrong hands, those family members may find themselves having to straighten out bills long after their loved one’s gone. Shredding documents helps prevent such problems from occurring,” said Smith.
Aroostook Shredding has been in the confidential destruction business for over 13 years. For information on the business, contact 764-8521.
“In 2007, we became members of NAID,” said Smith.
For reports about what happens when discarded information is not properly destroyed, go to www.naidonline.org/news.html. For a complete list of locations where free secure shredding is being provided, go to www.naidonline.org/shreddday/index.html.
