Twin Cities On The Cheap

Your Guide to Free Paper Shredding in the Twin Cities

POSTED BY
Living on the Cheap

To protect against identity theft, document shredding is becoming almost essential these days. Below is a list of many different organizations throughout the Twin Cities offering FREE document shredding.  Please note that some organizations have size restrictions and some only offer their services to residents in a certain area.  For up-to-date and complete information, always check the organization’s web site before heading out.

  • The City of Andover is sponsors FREE document shredding on the Second Saturday of each Month as part of its Monthly Appliance and Electronic Recycling program, from 9 a.m. – 1 p .m. at the Andover Recycling Center, 1785 Crosstown Blvd. (No July Recycling). See below for exact dates:
    • January 13
    • February 10
    • March 10
    • April 14
    • April 28 (Spring Recycling Day)
    • May 12
    • June 9
    • August 11
    • September 8 (Fall Recycling Day)
    • October 13
    • November 10
    • December 8
  • Anoka County has a NEW self-serve paper shredder available to residents during recycling center hours (Hours October – March: Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., April-Sept, Tues. & Thurs., 2-8 p.m., Wed, Friday, Sat., 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.). The self-serve shredder is intended for smaller amounts, please limit shreds to one box per visit. In addition, Anoka County offers larger shredding events (5 box limit) on the days noted below. All shredding services will take place at the Coon Rapids Recycling Center located at 1831 111th Avenue NW.
    • February 3, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • May 12, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • August 4, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • November 3, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • The City of Blaine sponsors a recycling drop-off day the third Saturday of each month, including FREE paper shredding, at Green Light’s Recycling (please enter at 1525 99th Lane NE), no box limit at this time. The collection event runs from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and is open to anyone. You do not need to be a Blaine resident to bring items to the drop-off day.
  • The City of Brooklyn Park will host a FREE material drop off day, including paper for shredding at the Operations and Maintenance Facility in Brooklyn Park (8300 Noble Avenue North) on April 28, 8 a.m – 3 p.m. The event is open to residents of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, New Hope and Crystal.
  • The City of Elk River is sponsoring a Document Shredding as part of its Spring Clean Up Day on TBD, from 9 a.m. – noon at the ISD 728 parking lot located across from 19027 Proctor Rd. NW. Payments can be made on site. Cost is $5 per load for residents and $25/per load for businesses, no limit as to amount. Business must pre-register.
  • Firefly Credit Union is sponsoring a FREE Community Shred Event for its members and the community on May 19, from 9 a.m – noon at the following locations:
    • Bloomington, 2772 East 82nd Street
    • Burnsville, 1400 River Road Drive
    • Fridley, 6303 Central Avenue NE
    • Lakeville, 17533 Cedar Avenue
    • Maple Grove, 11121 Fountains Drive North
  • The City of Hastings will host a FREE confidential shredding day as part of its Spring Clean Up on April 28, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Cal Ruedy Public Works Facility, 1225 Progress Drive, open to all Dakota County residents.
  • The Hennepin Recycling Group offers FREE shredding services for residents of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal and New Hope, as part of their Special Material drop-off day on TBD 2018 at the Brooklyn Park Operations and Maintenance facility.
  • The City of  Hopkins will host a courtesy Shred-It for residents as part of its Bulk Item Drop-Off Day on Friday, April 27, (3-7 p.m.) and Saturday, April 24 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) at the Public Works Building, 11100 Excelsior Blvd.  Open to refuse customers in the City service area of Hopkins.
  • The City of Maplewood will host a FREE document shredding for residents as part of its Spring Clean Up on TBD, 8 a.m.-noon at the Aldrich Arena, 1850 White Bear Avenue.
  • The City of New Brighton will  host a FREE document shredding for residents as part of its New Brighton Clean-up Day, May 19, 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. See web site for location.
  • Starting in May, Pioneer Secure Shred will offer FREE shredding on the first Friday of every month (up to 25 boxes) 9:30-11:30 a.m. at its Minneapolis location, 155 Irving Avenue North (not available months January – April).
  • The City of Plymouth is to hold a FREE Shred Event on Saturday, April 21,  at the Plymouth Maintenance Facility (14900 23rd Avenue North), at the annual Drop-Off event.  Open to residents of Plymouth only.
  • The City of Rosemount will host its annual Spring Clean-Up Day on May 19, 8 a.m. – noon at the Dakota County Technical College, 1300 145th Street East, open to Rosemount Residents only.
  • The City of Roseville is sponsoring a FREE Shredding day on May 19 at the  Roseville City Hall (2660 Civic Center Drive) from 9 a.m. – noon, open to all Roseville Residents.
  • Dakota County Residents can shred documents for FREE during the following events:
  • Royal Credit Union is sponsoring FREE Shred Events for its members and the general public on the following dates and locations:
    • TBD, New Richmond, WI, 355 S. Knowles Avenue
    • TBD, 10 a.m. – noon, Apple Valley, 14295 Cedar Avenue South
    • TBD, 10 a.m. – noon, St.  Paul, 1020 Rice Street
    • TBD, 9 a.m. – noon, Hudson, 2501 Hanley Road
    • TBD, 10 a.m. – noon, Edina, 4450 W. 76th Street
  • Shred Right is sponsoring the following FREE shredding events:
    • April 21, 9 – 11 a.m., Paul Bennett LTD, Roseville
    • April 21, 9 – 11:30, Empire Insurance Group/Sector Victor Insurance, 5357 Wyoming Trail, Wyoming
    • May 5, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hiway Federal Credit Union, 5025 East 54th Street, Minneapolis
    • May 12, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Community Resource Bank, 1501 W. County Road C, Roseville
    • May 19, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Firefly Credit Union, 1400 Riverwood Drive, Burnsville
    • May 19, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Firefly Credit Union, 17533 Cedar Avenue, Lakeville
    • May 19, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Firefly Credit Union, 2772 East 82nd Street, Bloomington
    • May 19, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Firefly Credit Union, 6303 Central Avenue NE, Fridley
    • May 19, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Firefly Credit Union, 11121 Fountain Drive N., Maple Grove
    • June 2, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Sunrise Bank, 2300 Como Avenue, St. Paul
    • August 18, 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Sunrise Bank-Minneapolis, 525 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis
  • Members of Topline Federal Credit Union can take advantage of FREE document shredding at any one of their branch locations.
  • TruStone Financial Credit Union is sponsoring FREE document shredding at on the following dates and locations from 9 a.m. – noon:
    • April 28, Maple Grove Branch, 7851  Elm Creek Boulevard, Maple Grove, MN 55369
    • May 5, Roseville Branch, 2150 Lexington Avenue North, Roseville, MN 55113
    • May 12, Burnsville Branch, 14300 Nicollet Court, Burnsville, MN 55309
  • The Washington County 2018 Confidential Shredding Dates are shown below.  Residents and businesses may bring up to 6 boxes for shredding, weighing no more than 30 pounds each to the Environmental Center located at 4039 Cottage Grove Drive in Woodbury.  CDs, floppy disks and other media will also be accepted for off-site destruction.
    • April 18, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • June 6, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • July 11, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • September 19, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • November 7, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • The City of West St. Paul will hold its Annual Shred Event on April 21, from 9 a.m.- noon (FREE event) at the West St. Paul Sports Complex (1650 Oakdale Avenue) for residents of South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights residents, Sunfish Lake, Lilydale and Mendota only.

If you would like to be included in this list or know of another organization that offers FREE shredding, please email the information to TwinCitiesonthecheap@gmail.com.

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Twin Cities on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.