Free hard drive shredding event for computer and laptop hard drives Friday, April 19th

CALGARY, April 15, 2013 /CNW/ - The ERA will host a free computer hard drive, cell phone, and usb memory disk, and any data storage device shredding and computer recycling event at its Calgary location, 1301 34^th Avenue SE, Calgary, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 19th.

The event provides free computer and laptop hard drive, cell phone, and data storage device shredding for individuals and businesses, with no limit on how computers and laptops they can bring. Also, individuals can recycle up to two Televisions at no cost. Please bring your entire computer or laptop if possible as the ERA needs them for donations to charities and non profits.

"We want to make sure that the local community has the opportunity to protect their identity by safely disposing of their sensitive information and outdated computers," says the team at ERA.

ERA will have 2 large Ameri-Shred hard drive shredders on location, as well as several drill presses, hammers, and hand tools.

Since 2004, ERA has been providing computer donation and recycling in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and across Canada, most recently held an event in Edmonton, with the Police Department. In four hours, 10 hard drives and seven computers were collected.

The Calgary Police shredding event was even more successful collecting almost 100 computers and laptops combined, held at Chinook Mall.

Electronics brought to the event are reused when possible, given to charities and non profits, and the non usable ones are given to government recyclers.

The ERA is planning to move into its own, large facility in Vancouver in 2013, at which point a massive event will be held downtown Vancouver with various paper shredders and other partners, to shred laptop and computer hard drives with confidential data. Currently all computers dropped off at bottle depots in BC are at risk of data exposure as they are not equipped to erase, or shred the hard drives on site, and have to be transported to various locations.

The ERA's dedication to reducing e-waste across Canada through the reuse and recycling of unwanted IT equipment has allowed other non-profit organizations and community groups to function to the best of their ability by providing for their IT needs. You can find out more online at www.era.ca

Image with caption: "ERA's Ameri-Shred hard drive, cell phone, and data storage device shredders. (CNW Group/Electronic Recycling Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130415_C5164_PHOTO_EN_25511.jpg

SOURCE: Electronic Recycling Association

For further information:

Media Contacts: Donations Team 1-877-9-EWASTE ext *1 or [e-mail]