Union County Offers Free Shredding and Recycling of Personal Documents to Residents in September

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 on Saturday, September 21^st. The event will be held at UCNJ in Parking Lots 5A/5B at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and running until 1:00 p.m.

"We encourage all residents to make use of this valuable tool as it greatly contributes to our collective efforts in ensuring a sustainable and environmentally friendly future for Union County," said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded.

Upon arrival, there will be ample signage to guide 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 conclude 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 designed for drive-up and contact-free service. 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 next free paper shredding event will take place on Friday, September 27^th at the Westfield Pool Parking lot in Westfield. 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. More information is available at ucnj.org/recycling/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.