Muskegon County to Host Free Document Shredding Day

Andrew Trzaska | July 30, 2013

Muskegon County will host a “Free Shred Day” in September to allow residents to dispose of sensitive documents.

County residents can bring up to 100 pounds of paper documents to the Pine Street parking lot of the Kobza Hall of Justice from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2013.

Kent Record Management of Kalamazoo will shred the documents on-site in plain view, so those dropping off documents can confirm their paper is disposed of.

Other communities in the region hold similar events on a regular basis, including the Tri-Cities area of Ottawa County.

Muskegon County Clerk Nancy Waters said the event would help raise awareness of the growing problem of consumer fraud, and will allow people to make sure their documents pose no risk after being thrown out.

The Identity Theft Assistance Center (ITAC) reports that over 12 million people were victims of identity fraud in 2012, an increase of 1 million victims over 2011.

ITAC also notes that while not all people whose personal data is compromised end up getting their identities stolen, it’s more common for that to happen – 1 in 4 ended up being victims of fraud in 2012, versus 1 in 5 in 2011.

Waters also said that in the future, the county might provide similar shredding events in sync with its semi-annual hazardous waste disposal events that take place in April and October.

County commissioners approved the event on an 8-0 vote at Tuesday’s full board meeting.