WEST CHESTER (April 17, 2022) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta will host a free community shredding event on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Malvern Fire Company.
Residents and families concerned about properly disposing of personal information should consider taking advantage of the opportunity to safely dispose of financial statements, tax forms, medical records, and other confidential information.
The documents will be destroyed onsite, and the shredded paper will later be recycled.
Each year, millions of Americans have their personal information — including name, social security number, bank account, or credit card number — stolen. According to the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, one of the most common methods of identity theft is so-called ‘dumpster diving’ where a thief will root through trash bins in search of sensitive documents.
“Shredding and properly disposing of sensitive documents is an important way to protect personal information and reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud,” Comitta said. “As we wrap up this year’s tax season, I am glad to offer this free service to our community to help protect your sensitive information from scammers.”
Some examples of unneeded documents that should be shredded include: credit card statements and applications, bank records, canceled checks, income tax forms, insurance records, medical and retirement or pension fund information, and any documents that contain personal information like Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers.
The event is free and open to the public. However, please note the following:
- This event is for individuals only, not businesses.
- There is a three (3) box limit per car.
- Only paper will be accepted. Please do not bring binders, binder clips, or books.
In addition, at the shredding event, nonperishable food items will be collected to benefit the Chester County Food Bank. While donations are welcomed and encouraged, they are not required to access the free shredding services.
Malvern Fire Company is located at 424 E. King Street in Malvern.
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