Free Shred Event Destroys nearly 44 Tons of Personal Documents

The Better Business Bureau Foundation’s spring ShredFest events held in Brookfield, Appleton, and two locations in Madison were a smashing success.

Events were held on April 25 in Madison, and on May 2 in Brookfield and Appleton. We had a combined total of more than 2,440 cars participate and shredded 87,620 pounds of personal documents.

ShredFest is a national event with several dozen BBBs participating in shredding events across the country. The BBB Foundation has been holding free shredding events twice annually since 2007.

SVA Certified Public Accountants (Brookfield, Madison and Appleton), our BBB corporate community partner made this event possible. New this year, WISC-TV 3 (Madison) was our media partner providing a location and consumer education about identity theft prevention. Piranha Paper Shredding (Brookfield), Pellitteri Data Destruction (Madison) and A.R.M.S., Inc. (Appleton) made it possible for secure on-site document destruction by donating their services.

Attendees enjoyed the convenience of staying in their vehicles as volunteers removed bags of documents from their cars and placed them into shredding bins. Event participants were able to witness the document destruction and departed with informational brochures on record retention and free BBB services.

“We’re always happy to host this free event and help people lessen the chance of identity theft,” said Ran Hoth, BBB CEO and President. “We are very grateful for our shredding partners, all the volunteers, and local media who help us spread the word about this important event. This was our ninth year helping individuals, families, and small businesses safely dispose of sensitive information.”

According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is the nation’s number one complaint for the fifteenth consecutive year. A common method used by thieves to steal personal information is dumpster diving, which entails rummaging through trash looking for old bills and other documents containing personal information.

As a result of shredding events in Wisconsin in 2014, the BBB helped individuals and businesses at sites in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton and Manitowoc shred 150,000 tons of sensitive documents - double the amount in 2013 and a record amount since BBB began ShredFest in 2007 – all for free.

The BBB’s shredding event is part of a larger, national secure your identity initiative hosted by BBB offices throughout the United States. This local, educational event is presented by the BBB Foundation of Wisconsin Inc.

BBB’s next ShredFest event will be held in fall. For the date, time, and location of our next event and for more information on preventing identity theft visit our website.