COA, Police Department sponsor bi-annual recycling day

Date: 9/27/2011

Sept. 26, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Council on Aging (COA) and the East Longmeadow Police Department are once again offering residents a chance to properly dispose of sensitive documents they may have in their possession.

The Shred and Electronics Recycling Day, which is hosted twice a year by the COA and local law enforcement, is slated to take place at the Pleasant View Senior Center on Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Shredding will be performed by ProShred, free of charge.

“This is an opportunity to get safely get rid of any documents with personal information,” Carolyn Brennan, executive director of the COA said. “You can actually see it happen. ProShred’s truck has cameras inside that allow you to watch your stuff getting shredded, which is very assuring. You aren’t just dropping off your stuff and hoping someone takes care of it.”

Seniors especially could be targets for scammers and identity thieves, making this event one that Brennan stresses seniors should take advantage of.

“It’s absolutely crucial to make sure those things are taken care of properly and that’s why [the COA] cosponsors this event with the Police Department,” she said. “We want to make sure that any sensitive documents aren’t just lying around.”

In addition to shredding, the event will provide residents the opportunity to recycle old electronics, free of charge.

“Green Monster [E-Cycling] is coming in specifically to collect electronics,” Brennan said. “There is a huge list of things they will accept, so we are very excited.”

Among the items that will be accepted are televisions; computers; monitors; toner and inkjet cartridges; printers and fax machines; telephones, cell phones; modems and routers; lab and medical equipment; stereos and CD players; vacuum cleaners; DVD players and VCRs; stoves and microwaves; and video games.

While the event is free to the public, the COA requests that all who participate bring a non-perishable food item for its food pantry. Items that are currently in short supply include jelly, peanut butter, tuna, pasta, oatmeal as well as personal items such as toilet paper and shaving cream.

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