HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2015-10-27 Shred Event Success
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release Media Contact:
Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer
barnett@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2734
Leesburg Residents Recycle 19 Tons of Papers at Free
Document Shredding Events in 2015
Leesburg, VA (October 27, 2015) – Since
2008, the Town of Leesburg’s Public Works
Department has hosted two free document
shredding events a year. At these events,
residents can bring up to three boxes of
documents and papers to be shredded and
recycled on site. At the two events in 2015,
over 900 residents brought a whopping
38,000 pounds of documents!
“The Town is required to comply with the
25% mandatory recycling rate set by the
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for solid waste management programs, but we
recognize that people are reluctant to put documents with sensitive information into their
recycling bins,” explained Jennifer Lamberton, the Leesburg staff person who oversees the
document shredding program. “The shred events offer residents a way to recycle their
documents safely and securely, without fear of identity theft.”
In the eight years since the progam began, annual participation has tripled, with more than 97
tons of documents collected over the life of the program to date.
Beginning in 2012, seeking ways to make the program more meaningful for residents, the Town
added a food drive to the events. Over the years, more than 2,100 pounds of non-perishable
foods and nearly $600 have been collected at the shred events and donated to Loudoun
Interfaith Relief.
“Adding a food drive to an existing event is a brilliant, easy way to extend outreach efforts,”
said Jennifer Montgomery, Executive Director of Loudoun Interfaith Relief. “We truly appreciate
the on-going support from the Town of Leesburg government.”
The next Town of Leesburg document shredding event will be held in the spring of 2016.
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