On Saturday, May 9, citizens representing 99 Westport residences made their way to the Westport/Weston Health District Parking Lot, to take part in Westport's first Community "Shred Day." 
While visiting her daughter in Chapel Hill, NC, Westporter Nina Streitfield was impressed by the use of local shred days. She wrote to Westport's First Selectman, Gordon Joseloff, suggesting the activity for Westport. Joseloff liked the idea and turned to Town Clerk Patricia Strauss to help implement the program. After interviewing three vendors, the town contracted with Secure EcoShred of Brookfield, who enthusiastically endorsed the effort and offered their services at a deep discount.
Under the program, each household was allowed to bring up to five, 12 X 18 inch boxes of papers to shred. Paper shopping bags could be used as substitutes for the boxes.
As cars pulled into the lot, Patty Strauss and Pat Scully checked people in, confirming residency and noting the number of boxes/bags to be shredded.
Members of the Staples High School Service League of Boys (SLOBS) then helped residents unload their cars and carry their boxes to the shredder.
From 9 A.M. until Noon, Westporters took the opportunity to safely dispose of documents containing confidential information, including cancelled checks, tax papers and bank statements. Some residents parted with personal papers, such as old love letters.
By the end of the morning, the contents of 237 boxes, containing 5000 lbs of paper, had made its way through the shredder.
Copyright © 2009 Marilyn Katz, WestportCTProperties.com, All Rights Reserved, Westport, CT- Community Shred Day
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