Times Square celebrates “Good Riddance Day”

Many folks are saying goodbye to bad memories from 2015 in an effort to get the new year off to a good start. “But the joke was on me”, she said.

The person with the most creative bad idea or memory wins an iPad.

A mobile shredding truck will be on hand to destroy amusing, outlandish or even heartbreaking memories written down on paper. Maureen Dexter of Washington was the contest victor and shredded her weight loss “before” photo after she lost 70 pounds. The 40-year-old wife and mother of three chose to shred a photo of herself 70 pounds heavier, gleefully relinquishing it to the machine as the crowd cheered.

The sound of a mallet smashing reminders from 2015 echoed through Times Square as dozens lined up to take part in the 9th Annual Good Riddance Day.

“It feels good to get rid of the bad and start the new year positive”, said Zachary Budnick, 29, of Union Square who shred a personal item from last year that he asked to keep private. There was also paper available at the site for the public to write down any of their bad memories to shred.

The shredded paper will be used as confetti for Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebration, according to officials.

“I’ve been meaning to do it all year”, she said.