Andersons to host ‘shred day’

LIMA - A free program this weekend put on by three area sponsors is designed to have a two-fold benefit for local businesses and residents: One, it will allow people and businesses to safely dispose of their old electronics and documents for free in an environmentally safe way; and, two, it will destroy or protect any sensitive information on those items that could be harmful in the wrong hands.

Sponsored by The Andersons, The Lima News, WLIO and the Sylvania-based recycling group Affinity Information Management, "Shred Day" will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at The Andersons store at the American Mall.

AIM is a firm that provides "secure information management and data destruction solutions to assist area residents who want to safely destroy personal documents and recycle electronic equipment," said Debra Crow, spokeswoman for The Andersons.

Mary Grant, assistant manager of the Lima store, said the program is ideal for people who are concerned about their privacy.

"People have a need to get rid of old computers and televisions and papers - anything of that nature - we can shred," Grant said.

Tom Keller, general manager of The Andersons, said the program is ideal because the electronic devices they are collecting contain materials that can be harmful to the environment in landfills.

"All that old stuff that's broke or obsolete - this company salvages the precious metals," he said. "They recycle the materials by cooking it down and reusing it. We're hoping people take advantage of this free public service."

Crow said about 70 percent of the heavy metals found in landfills come from electronic equipment and consumer electronics account for 40 percent of the lead found in landfills. Other types of electronics, she said, contain hazardous materials such as cadmium, mercury, hexavalent, chromium and brominated flame retardants.

"Clearly there are two advantages of doing this," Keller said. "One, you keep these harmful products out of the landfill because it's not good having them in the ground. Two, these precious metals are exhaustible. If you recycle it, they don't have to mine as much."

In addition to Saturday's event, AIM is going to area businesses from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday to pick up the same items.

"The shredding will be done, if they want, right in front of them just like if you paid to have it shredded," Keller said. "The nice thing is that it's commercial grade and you can put more than one piece, or a few sheets, in at a time. ... Often people pay to have it done when they have quantities of sensitive information. With this you can throw the whole box in and it shreds it."