Paper Shredding Events

In accordance with our sponsorship agreements, we offer six free paper shredding drop-off events for residents each year as follows:

  • 2 for Richland County residents only
    • April at the Columbia Place Mall
    • November at the Columbia Place Mall
  • 3 for Lexington County residents only
    • March in Batesburg-Leesville
    • May in the location of our choice (usually a small town in the southern part of the county)
    • October in the location of our choice (usually in Lexington)
  • 1 for both Lexington and Richland County residents
    • August in Irmo

WHAT You Need to Know

  • Residents may bring up to five boxes or bags of paper to each event.
  • Material from businesses is NOT accepted.
  • Residents must show a driver’s license or other proof of residency upon arrival.
  • Please stay in your vehicle for safety and to allow traffic to move faster. We will unload the paper for you.
  • The event ends when the truck is full. We use data from the past seven years to predict the number and size of the trucks needed but on rare occasions, more people turn out than expected and we are forced to end early. Please plan accordingly.

TIME of Events

  • Richland County events are held 8 a.m. to 12 noon (or until the truck is full).
  • Lexington County and Irmo events are held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

COMMON Q&A

1. Will my paper be shredded right away?

  • Yes, all paper is shredding onsite. It is placed into a trash roll cart which is emptied into the shred truck when full to be shredded immediately. It may take two or three vehicles to fill the trash can but then yes, it is shredded.

2. Do I need to remove staples, paper clips, and spiral binding?

  • No. The shredder is very powerful.

3. Can you shred credit cards, DVDs, photographs, and magazines?

  • Yes, however, please save the valuable shredder space for items that truly must be shredded to protect your privacy and identity. Many items can and should be recycled in your curbside bin.

4. What items should NOT be shredded?

  • Batteries, electronics, and other hard items are very dangerous in the truck’s shredder. Please be sure that these are NEVER included with your paper items.

5. If two people from two different households are coming together, can we bring up to ten boxes or bags of paper?

  • Yes. Just be ready to show two different driver’s licenses from two households in Lexington or Richland counties (depending on the event location).

6. Who should I contact if I have questions about the paper shredding event?

  • Call (803) 733-1139 or email Traude Sander at tsander@kmbsc.org.