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Truck to demonstrate shredding process
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MUSC’s
big, paper-shredding truck will be parked in the Horseshoe from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Feb. 11 where it will demonstrate how confidential
information is protected when materials are destroyed. Information on
recyclable materials and collection schedules also will be available.
by Caroline Davila
Engineering and Facilities, Communications for Sustainability Program
To ensure patient privacy and information security MUSC acquired its
own paper shredder, which can be spotted or heard churning on campus
throughout the week.
The mobile shredding device manufactured by Vecoplan is contained in a
17-foot truck. After researching various shredding processes, services
and devices, the Vecoplan shredder was selected because of the high
level of security it provided. The advantage with this system, over
strip and cross-shredding systems, is that it securely rips or tears
each document into one to two-inch uneven segments.
The shredder also aids in MUSC’s paper recycling efforts.
On a constant basis, every confidential document is collected along
with all general office paper that is discarded in recycling bins.
These paper recycling bins are located in nurses’ stations, clinics and
offices, at the Education Center/Library, and in all administrative
departments.
The paper shredding process entails the following seven-step process each week:
1. The paper recycling bin is manually swapped for an empty bin, or emptied into a 96-gallon cart.
2. The paper is stored in the locked cart at one of the many
recycling stations on campus until the truck and shredding crew comes
to shred it. (This usually happens the same day and always within two
days of collection.)
3. The 96-gallon recycling cart is strapped to the lift located
on the curb side of the truck and mechanically lifted and dumped
into the shredder.
4. The paper falls into a hopper that feeds it to the shredder.
5. The shredded material then gets pushed to the back of the
truck by an auger, or series of rollers and remnants are compacted
inside the truck.
6. When it’s full, the truck is driven to the Sonoco Recycling plant in North Charleston and unloaded.
7. At the Sonoco facility, the mulch paper is baled and sold to
paper mills for use in making more paper or paper products.
An estimated $200,000 in shredding fees were saved last year
alone because of recycling efforts. To keep track of the recycling
progress, the Web site is updated weekly.
Visit http://www.musc.edu/gogreen
for a chance to win the RecyleMania 2009 Question of the Week contest
and for useful contact information. Call 792-4119 to request a new bin.
Friday, Feb. 6, 2009
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