Residents of Dakota County, mark your calendars and clear your clutter. The county is rolling out free paper shredding events to help you safely dispose of personal documents you've been hanging onto for too long. Tax returns, medical records, or any sheets riddled with sensitive data like Social Security and account numbers are fair game. But before you go tearing up every paper in sight, remember that papers with just names and addresses aren't confidential—those can be tossed straight into your recycling bin at home.

The service kicks off on May 4th and runs on select Saturdays through June 1st, according to a page on the county's website. These events aren't just about avoiding identity theft; they're a green initiative to boot. Shredding prevents private papers from ending up in landfills and facilitates proper recycling. Just don't throw the scraps in with your glass and plastic at home—those tiny bits wreak havoc at sorting facilities and can bungle up the recycling process.

If you've shredded at home, don't sweat it. Bag the bits and bring them over to The Recycling Zone in Eagan. They'll make sure your strips are properly processed. Here's the skinny on the shred sessions: they're all open from 9 a.m. to noon, except for an extended run at the Rosemount college lot on May 18th—plan for an 8 a.m. early bird start over there. Check the specifics of which events you're eligible for based on your city; some locations have restrictions.

For the full rundown on when and where you can dump your documents, toss a glance at the official shredding events schedule. And hey, it's free, it's easy, and it's good for the planet—so there's no excuse not to get that paper pile under control.