Paper shredding practices are concerning

I appreciate Green Girl Recycling. Employees are helpful and efficient; the price for the disposal of electronic items, for example, is reasonable. When I’ve called with questions, Bridget has answered. I like supporting our local economy.

On April 6, I brought three bags of paper to be shredded. This was the first time I’ve taken paper to Green Girl. In the past, Longmont offered its monthly shredding event at its Martin Street recycling center. Although Green Girl Recycling had a large screen on which customers could view the shredding process, this wasn’t comforting. I was unnerved by what I saw.

Previously, at Martin Street, the person accepting my paper would simply dump my entire bag or box into a very large garbage can that, when full, was lifted into the shredding machine. The person accepting my shred never touched a single piece of paper except if one might be stuck at the bottom of the bag/box.

Today, I watched workers take a handful of paper at a time out of my plastic bag and spread it out loosely on a conveyor belt. This was repeated many times before a single bag was emptied. What’s more, old tax returns, bank statements, personal health insurance information, etc. were visible to those working on and around the conveyor belt — not reassuring. I found myself wondering about torn pieces of paper that might wind up on the floor.

I appreciate Green Girl Recycling generally. I appreciate the shredding convenience that Longmont has offered for years for just a few dollars added to my monthly utility bill. I would gladly pay a few dollars more for the continued convenience and for a more secure shredding process — more like the one previously in place.

Is anyone else uneasy about the change?

— Denise Fazio, Longmont