Brookhaven shreds more than 10 tons of paper

More than 10.5 tons of paper were recycled last week at a Brookhaven shredding event.

That’s heavier than your average adult African elephant, which weighs about 7 tons.

The town’s 2011 shredding event, held Friday and Saturday at the town landfill, attracted about 120 residents and small-business owners.

A mobile shredder provided by the recycling company Hudson-Baylor Corp. destroyed about 21,000 pounds of paper. The company keeps the first 7,000 pounds of shredded paper, and the town will sell the rest.

“Town wide, our residents have made great strides in raising the recycling rates in 2011, which helps our environment and saves the Town money at the same time,” Town Supervisor Mark Lesko said in a release. “This event gives the community another chance to do their part, and I thank all of those who came down to participate.”