WICKER PARK — If canceled checks, credit card statements, love letters from your ex and other papers are weighing you down, you can stuff all of it in bags and watch the pulp get destroyed at a free paper shredding and electronic recycling event set for this Saturday.
Sponsored by the Special Service Area Taxpayer District No. 33, the Community Shredding & E-waste Recycling Day is planned for 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday in the A.N. Pritzker School parking lot, 2020 W. Evergreen St. in Wicker Park.
Ongoing for several years, the bimonthly event, usually held in the K-Mart parking lot near Ashland Avenue and Division Street, was relocated due to construction of a Lowe's Home Improvement store, said Beth Sholtis, a staffer with the chamber of commerce.
Since 2009, the effort has collected about 40 tons of paper and 12 tons of electronics, Sholtis said.
"Participation has increased over time and we’ve heard cool things about the event, like condo associations promoting on the building bulletin board! We have faithful participants, too, who come to every shredding event," Sholtis said.
Representatives from Shred IT, who will work out of a truck parked in the lot, will allow residents to shred up to three boxes or bags for free; additional material can be shredded for $5 per box or bag.
There will also be an opportunity to dispose of electronics too. PC Rebuilders & Recyclers, which refurbishes retired computers for schools, nonprofit groups and homes, will collect unwanted computers and wipe away any personal information.
Desktop computers, laptops, monitors, printers, cables, mice, keyboards, fax machines, TVs, VCRs, DVD and MP3 players, video game consoles, cell phones and video equipment can all be dropped off. No household appliances will be accepted.
After Saturday's event, the next scheduled recycling dates are Sept. 12 and Nov. 14, also in the Pritzker School parking lot.
For more info, visit the Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area No 33's website, or call 773-384-2672.
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