Paper flurry at tax time? Lots of options for shredding

David Kenison of Delano has two paper shredders at home. But after scanning a lot of old tax and business documents, he needed a timesaver.

"I want to find one of those events where I can bring in a couple of boxes of paper and they shred them free," he said. "It takes too long at home."

Tax time is often the trigger that makes people think about purging their piles of sensitive data. Fortunately, there are plenty of free or low-cost shredding options in the Twin Cities for those who don't want to handle document destruction on their own.

Louise Kurzeka, a professional organizer with Everything's Together in St. Louis Park, said that finding a free or low-cost paper shredding event has an added benefit.

It forces people to clear their file drawers.

"Either buy a tabletop shredder that you sit near when you're opening the mail or put one of the free events on your calendar," she suggested as a way to stem the paper tide.

Sara Pedersen of Time to Organize in Shoreview suggests checking with your bank or credit union for any free shredding events. Some will accept a box or less of material at their branches.

Pioneer Secure Shred (155 Irving Av. N., Minneapolis, 612-381-2199) offers free shredding of up to three boxes of paper (banker's box sized) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Friday.

Shred Right (www.shredrightnow.com, 651-621-1862) will offer free shredding events open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon on April 19 at the Washington County Environmental Center in Woodbury and from 9 a.m. to noon on April 20 at US Federal Credit Union locations in Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Chaska, Lakeville, Minneapolis and Shakopee.

Check the website for addresses and additional dates. Box limits may apply.

At its St. Paul location, the company will shred up to eight boxes for a fee ($25 plus $3 per box after eight) from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. It will also shred electronic media for 32 cents per pound and cellphones and hard drives for $5 each at its St. Paul location.

Office Max, Office Depot and UPS stores offer paper shredding for about 79 cents per pound (a grocery sack filled with paper weighs 10 to 15 pounds). Check for frequent coupons and discounts through April in Sunday circulars, company apps and e-mails, and on their websites. Sunday through Saturday, OfficeMax will offer 50 percent off shredding with a flier available in the stores.

"Most people bring it to us, but people settling an estate or cleaning out a home office find it convenient," said Don Drapeau, president of Shred Right.