Addabbo and Rajkumar Host Community Paper Shredding Event to Promote Identity Theft Prevention and Environmental Issue Awareness

To promote identity theft prevention and encourage responsible document disposal in an environmentally friendly way, Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar hosted a paper shredding event in Forest Park on September 29, 2024. 

“This shredding event is a great opportunity for our community to take proactive steps in protecting themselves against identity theft,” Addabbo said. “By providing a safe and convenient way to dispose of sensitive documents, we empower our residents to safeguard their personal information, while recycling paper.”

Identity theft is a growing concern, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting that approximately 1.4 million consumers reported identity theft in 2022. This event aims to help residents securely dispose of sensitive documents, protecting their personal information and raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding identities.

A line of cars stretched around the Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot with dozens of constituents consistently dropping off unwanted documents during the four-hour event. At the end of the event, 2.9 tons or 5,800 pounds of paper was shredded. That’s enough to save 49 trees. 

The United War Veterans Council was also on-site collecting clothing, household items and small pieces of furniture, with the help of 104COP personnel. In total they received 3,293 pounds of donations.