TOMS RIVER — Ocean County residents looking to safely dispose of sensitive paperwork during tax season and spring cleaning will once again have the opportunity to do so through the county’s free Residential Document Shredding Program.
Now in its 16th year, the program begins March 27 in Lakewood and includes 11 additional events scheduled across Ocean County throughout the spring and fall. The initiative allows residents to securely discard personal documents while helping reduce the risk of identity theft.
A full schedule and program details are available through the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management at co.ocean.nj.us/recycle.
“This program has become a trusted resource for Ocean County residents,” said Frank Sadeghi, director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and liaison to the Department of Solid Waste Management. “For 16 years, residents have relied on these shredding events to safely dispose of confidential paperwork and reduce the risk of identity theft. The demand continues to grow, and we hear from residents throughout the year asking when the program will return.”
In 2025, more than 94 tons of documents were securely destroyed through the county’s shredding events.
Residents may bring household paperwork that contains sensitive information, such as bank account numbers or Social Security numbers, that should not be discarded in regular trash. Each vehicle is limited to four boxes or clear bags, with a maximum weight of 100 pounds.
Commercial materials are not accepted. Items such as newspapers, magazines, books, junk mail, greeting cards, photographs, X-rays, CDs and previously shredded paper will also be turned away. Paper clips and staples, however, may remain attached to documents.
“The Board of Commissioners is proud to continue offering this free service,” Sadeghi said. “In addition to the environmental benefits, these events provide peace of mind by helping residents protect themselves from scams and identity theft.”
No registration is required to participate. For safety reasons, residents must remain inside their vehicles while staff unload documents. Materials should be placed in a trunk, cargo area or truck bed for easy removal.
Residents who shred documents at home can also dispose of shredded paper at drop-off bins located at the Northern Ocean County Recycling Center in Lakewood and the Southern Ocean County Recycling Center in Stafford Township. Both facilities are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Officials note shredded paper should not be placed in curbside recycling bins because it cannot be properly sorted with other recyclables.
