Do you have a backlog of old bills, documents, and other sensitive materials lying around the house and taking up space, but that you are afraid to throw away for fear of identity theft? If so, then "Shred Day", a program sponsored by the Shred-it company of Greensboro, may soon be able to lift the burden from your shoulders when they visit Laurinburg March 21.

Sharon English, family and consumer sciences agent with the Scotland County Cooperative Extension Services in Laurinburg, came up with the initial idea of inviting a paper shredding company to visit Scotland County.

"I read about this being done elsewhere," English said, "and I thought what a wonderful opportunity this would be for our citizens to clear their homes of information that could be potentially damaging in the wrong hands. I contacted the Shred-it company of Greensboro last August, and our county was one of those chosen for them to visit. They will be bringing their equipment to the parking lot of Scotland High School for "Shred Day" next week."

According to English, a garbage truck-sized vehicle containing equipment capable of shredding 2,000 pounds per hour will be on hand to destroy documents in a unique and virtually unreconstructible way.

"The equipment cuts the paper confetti style, in a cross-cutting motion, rather than in strips like most paper shredders do," English said.

Once the materials are shredded, they are transported to a secure baling facility within 48 hours. The paper is then compounded, and pressed into bales weighing 1500 pounds each.

"The bales are then shipped to a paper mill for recycling," English said. "Approximately nine million trees are recycled annually through the Shred-it company process alone."

Juanita Bowen of the Extension and Community Association (ECA), a volunteer group associated with the county extension program, is excited that the Shred-it company chose to bring their services to Scotland County.

"We want everyone to see what a good project this is," Bowen said. "It is so time consuming to shred documents at home, and this is such a good way to get rid of all your unwanted documents. You can bring them to Shred Day, even with staples and paper clips attached, and they will get rid of it for you."

Identity theft is a growing problem across the country, according to Stuff-it Sales Marketing Manager Roy Davenport.

"According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2008 alone over 300,000 North Carolinians were victims of indentity theft," Davenport said. "Nationwide that figure was over 12 million. Identity theft is the fastest growing consumer crime in the country, with about four percent of the population a victim to this growing problem."

Davenport said the numbers would appear more surprising if they were applied to another type of situation.

"Could you imagine if four percent of the population had a disease, or was suffering from another type of calamity? The public would be shocked."

The Shred-it company truck will be in the high school parking lot from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on March 21, rain or shine. There is no charge for the service. Patrons are asked to limit their documents to four garbage bags or a total of 100 pounds. Volunteers will be available to assist visitors with their items to be recycled. For more information visit the Shred It company website at www.shredit.com.