Record amount of material disposed of on ‘shred day’

  • Published
  • By Andrea Stephens
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  More than 33 tons of material were shredded June 18, resulting in AEDC's largest bulk shred of non-printed media to date.

As part of ongoing recycling efforts, and in support of Information Protection Program requirements, AEDC hosted a bulk shred day to properly dispose of sensitive materials, to include proprietary, For Official Use Only and International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) export controlled information, and information protected under the Privacy Act.

"Identity theft is becoming one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States," said Information Protection Security Specialist Jack Glasser. "It's easy to see why AEDC is committed to protecting the controlled unclassified information that could affect our nation, our customers, and our workforce, The statistics show just how vulnerable we are to identity theft.

"In addition to bulk shred day, the relationship we have with Cintas provides a secure and convenient method of disposing of our valuable information. Proper protection of controlled unclassified information is a responsibility that everyone should take seriously."

According to ATA Facility Security Officer Jeannie Bowden, the materials properly disposed of during the bulk media shred included CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, slides, movie film, photographs, transparencies and FM MUX tapes.

Due to the costs associated with base incineration capability, contracting shred services is the most cost effective solution for AEDC's destruction needs, said ATA Director of Support Services Pat Eagan. 

Eagan said effective management of the Cintas contract this fiscal year was the reason additional disposal services could be requested.

Previously, labor dollars were required to remove media labels, deliver media to the Central Computer Facility, complete degaussing actions and certification labeling, move degaussed materials to the warehouse, then load the materials into an AEDC truck for delivery to a local recycling company, Bowden explained.

"The bottom line is that we are removing unneeded materials in an environmentally safe way and saving the taxpayers precious test and support funds to be used in a more effective manner," Bowden said.