Westmoreland Review

Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Hempfield) has announced that he will host a free event for constituents to safely dispose of sensitive documents. The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, from 4-6 p.m., at the Hempfield Township Park and Athletic Complex, located at 220 Forbes Trail Road, Greensburg.

Nelson highlighted the importance of securely discarding sensitive information as a defense against identity theft. "Unfortunately, there are criminal elements that aim to steal sensitive information and use it to create false accounts, and often the victim doesn’t know until they are receiving calls from creditors," Nelson said. He emphasized that safe disposal of such documents can prevent one's information from being stolen.

The type of information recommended for secure disposal includes printed materials containing bank and credit card numbers, tax documents, insurance claim forms, and anything listing a Social Security number. All documents received at the event will be shredded on-site before being transported to a local paper recycling plant.

The event is specifically intended for personal documents; commercial business files will not be accepted. There is a limit of four bags or boxes per household. Manila folders are acceptable and staples and paper clips do not need to be removed prior to shredding. In case of inclement weather, the event may be canceled. For any queries regarding the event, constituents can contact Nelson’s district office at 724-834-6400.

Nelson reiterated the significance of this measure in combating identity theft: “It can take countless hours for a victim to reverse the harm of having their identities used fraudulently,” he said. “But criminals can’t use what they can’t get their hands on, which is why disposing of this kind of information is so important."