Burlington Review

Burlington County residents will have three more opportunities to safely dispose of confidential documents and plastic film this year during the County’s upcoming fall shredding events.

Plastic drink carriers, also known as “handles,” will also be collected during the shredding events.

The first event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 9 AM to 1 PM, at the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex, 22000 Burlington-Columbus Road in Florence. Two more events will be held at the same location and time on Oct. 13 and Nov. 10.

During all three events, residents can recycle confidential documents such as bank and credit card statements, tax returns, and other papers with sensitive information like account and Social Security details.

Already this year, county residents have recycled more than 56,300 pounds of paper at March and May shred events where over 1,900 residents participated.

“Burlington County is thrilled to offer free programs like this one that allow our residents to dispose of financial papers and sensitive documents in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson. “This is a great County service that helps promote recycling and sustainability.”

Shredding is reserved for Burlington County residents only (out-of-county residents, businesses, and nonprofits will be turned away) and only confidential papers will be accepted at the event. Magazines, junk mail, household trash, binders, plastic folders, computer discs or plastic credit cards will not be accepted.

Identification is required. There is a limit of four bags or boxes of paper weighing no more than 10 pounds each. Residents are asked to place them in the trunk or cargo areas so staff can easily remove them. Already shredded paper will be accepted.

During the shredding events, the County will also collect clean and dry plastic bubble wrap, plastic shipping mailers and plastic wrap from cases of water and paper products. These materials must be bagged separately from papers and be dry and free of food residue.

Plastic PakTech drink carriers used to carry aluminum cans of beer, soda and seltzer will also be collected as part of a new County initiative. The carriers are recyclable but should not be placed in curbside recycling bins because the machinery at the County recycling center cannot sort them. Residents are encouraged to bring their used plastic carriers to the Recovery Complex during the shredding events or during the Recovery Center’s regular operating hours on weekdays and Saturdays. Carriers should be bagged separately from paper and plastic film.

The plastic film materials are recycled through a County partnership with Trex Company Inc., a Virginia-based company that manufactures composite decking and railing from recycled plastics. Drink carriers will be recycled by the County and sent to mills to be made into new handles and other plastic products.

More than 260 pounds of plastic film materials were collected during the County’s two spring shredding events.

“Each pound of paper and plastic we recycle correctly saves landfill space and the tax dollars towns spend on disposal fees,” said Burlington County Commissioner Tom Pullion, liaison to the Department of Solid Waste & Recycling. “Last year, Burlington County residents helped recycle more than 82 million pounds of recyclables saving our municipalities almost $3.9 million in additional fees so we want to encourage residents to continue taking advantage of these free shredding events.”