The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites all residents to participate in the recycling of their personal documents and sensitive papers at the County's next free paper shredding event, taking place on Friday, September 27th. The event will be held at the Westfield Pool Parking lot at 713 Cumberland Street in Westfield, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and running until 1:00 p.m.

"By giving your items a new purpose through recycling, we are helping to conserve natural resources," said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. "I'm incredibly proud to see that our collective efforts are contributing to a more sustainable future for generations to come. I encourage everyone to take this opportunity and bring their personal documents to the next paper shredding event."

Upon arrival, there will be ample signage to direct residents to the shredding site. The paper shredding event will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will end promptly at 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. However, if the shredding trucks reach full capacity, the event will end ahead of schedule. Residents are encouraged to arrive promptly at the start of the event to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for their materials.

All paper shredding events are drive-up and contact-free. We kindly ask residents to have their papers in the trunk of their car or the cargo bed of their truck before arriving, to facilitate efficient removal of materials by staff. Residents must remain in their vehicles while staff handles the unloading and shredding of papers, which are shredded onsite in the mobile shredding trucks. Participants are reminded that pre-shredded, damp, or wet paper will not be accepted. Additionally, bindings, large plastic or metal clips, and other extraneous materials must be removed before arrival at the shredding site.

Union County's free shredding events are intended for personal, sensitive, and residentially generated documents only. Residents can recycle magazines, junk mail, and other waste paper through their municipal recycling program. For contact information regarding your municipal recycling program, please visit https://ucnj.org/recycling/municipal-recycling-coordinators/. Residents are limited to ten pounds (four bags/ boxes) per vehicle. Business documents will not be accepted for shredding at the events. Businesses that show up at the event will be turned away. Businesses that need shredding services can instead contact the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning by phone at 908-654-9890 or via the online form at www.ucnj.org/recycle for further guidance.

The last free paper shredding event for 2024 will take place on Saturday, October 19^th in the parking lot of the Municipal Complex in Berkeley Heights. For the complete 2024 paper shredding schedule and information on all recycling programs hosted by Union County, visit ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889. For the latest news and updates on all municipal and countywide recycling programs in Union County, download the free Recycle Coach app.

The mobile paper shredding program is paid for through Recycling Enhancement Act Grant funds, which are applied for by Union County and received from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.