Crunching could be heard at the Otter Co-op Thursday but it wasn鈥檛 the latest snack food.

ERA Recycling had its truck on site and in partnership with the 91原创 RCMP, was using its crusher to turn computer storage into chunks of twisted metal at an electronics shredding event May 25.

The public was invited to drop off electronics such as computers, laptops, and cellphones, along with peripherals and even old tech such as floppy disks, for data destruction and recycling.

The memory and storage components were removed from the computers and sent through the crusher to ensure the data was destroyed.

Then the ground pieces are sent for sorting and recycling because technology contains precious metals.

But as precious to thieves can be the information people leave on technology that they then toss.

鈥淲e just want to ensure people can safely dispose of any of their cellphones and computers hard drives,鈥� explained 91原创 RCMP Const. Peter Mann.

By the end of the day, the crews had taken in 23 PCs, six monitors, 45 laptops, 11 printers, 148 cellphones, 30 tablets, and 11 boxes of miscellaneous electronics and cables. A total of 77 hard drives were shredded.

ERA (the Electronics Recycling Association) assessed the computers, both laptop and desktop, that were dropped off to see if they can be refurbished.

Used computers that can be given a new life can then go to schools, other groups and start-up businesses.

People who missed the event can drop off devices for data destruction at #1045 11111 Twigg Pl. in Richmond (Mitchell Island) or contact ERA to find out if pick up is available.

At the same shredding event, donations were being accepted for the Aldergrove Food Bank with RCMP members and municipal staff on hand to provide information about local crime prevention initiatives and hand out swag for the RCMP鈥檚 150th anniversary.

The food bank received $470 in cash donations and five boxes of non-perishable food.

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鈥� READ MORE: Old tech ground up to prevent identity theft

鈥� READ MORE: Scammers pretend to be doing 91原创 City survey

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