Shredding Events In HoCo Help Protect Personal Information

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — One step people can take to protect their identity is to shred unneeded important documents. Howard County is hosting two shredding events in October where residents can bring up to three bags or boxes of paper containing personal information to be shredded.

The first shredding event will be Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Gary Arthur Community Center, 2400 State Route 97 in Cooksville, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The second shredding event will be Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Long Gate Park & Ride, 5000 Meadowbrook Lane in Ellicott City, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to county officials, items that should be shredded are those that contain the following:

• Passwords
• PINs
• Signatures
• Social Security numbers
• Date of birth
• Federal and state tax documents
• Credit card and other household bills
• Medical records
• Pay stubs
• Mortgage documents
• Insurance bills

Items that will not be accepted include:

• File folders
• Manila folders
• Junk mail
• Schoolwork
• Event programs
• Coloring books
• Brochures
• Advertising
• Magazines
• Calendars, etc.

The county requests that residents ensure that boxes or paper bags are free of:

• Batteries
• Plastic or glass items
• Binder clips
• Screwdrivers
• Scissors, etc.