Start gathering private documents that can be thrown away (check out these guidelines from USA.gov) and head to the Montclair End of Summer Shredfest on Saturday, September 20 between 10 am – 2 pm. You’ll enjoy the peace of mind from seeing your confidential documents shredded, while boosting recycling and saving money and energy.
According to Gray Russell, the Sustainability Officer at Montclair’s Department of Environmental Affairs, Montclair’s recyclable paper is a valuable commodity, earning us as much as $65 per ton. But if thrown out as garbage, the same paper costs us over $85 per ton to burn at the Essex County Incinerator. Paying $85 to burn something worth $100 means we are wasting $150 per ton; as much as 5,000 tons of recyclable paper is thrown out every year in Montclair, so when we do the math, we’re actually burning almost a million dollars of our own money!
Plus, recycling not only saves money, it saves energy. Manufacturing products out of recycled materials requires much less energy than making products from virgin materials. Wasting energy emits unnecessary greenhouse gasses which contribute to climate change; this event will help you shrink your carbon footprint!
A paper-shredding truck will be provided free of charge by Montclair’s recycling vendor, Green Sky Industries. Residents can drive in and will be helped to unload their personal files. A closed circuit video camera mounted inside the truck will display the paper being shredded, and residents will be able to watch as it happens.
Note: confidential paper documents only. Regular paper recycling is collected curbside, or can be dropped off at the adjacent Recycling Center in the DCS Yard. Don’t worry about paper clips, staples, or envelope windows; clear scotch tape is acceptable, but not masking or duct tape.
(Photo: Flickr)
I learned some interesting facts about recycling paper a while ago. Every time they are recycled the fibers get shorter. Eventually all you can do is mush them up into egg carton containers or Starbucks drink holders. The next time you run into your old bank statements may be at the grocery store.