Getting rid of documents

I agree with Davida1968 that a lot of "confidential" paperwork may only need the personal details to be removed (torn or cut off- they're usually at the top of a sheet)..
the content not meaning a thing to anyone else.. look on the back aswell of course.
I have a cross shredder.

I had the same problem a few years ago when DH1 died, with documents going back to the 1960s. I bought a heavy duty shredder and got going. When it broke, I bought another. Took me about four months to get through it all. Part of the grieving process for me, I suppose. It is amazing how much room shredded paper takes up.

Unfortunately we lived in a flat so the options of burning or composting weren't available.

I think a lot of "confidential" paperwork may only need the personal details to be removed (torn or cut off- they're usually at the top of a sheet). Once this is done, the writing may well mean nothing as regards identifying the people involved. This is what we do with our paperwork. Generally speaking, I think that bank statements, receipts reports, bills etc. are rendered "meaningless" once any relevant names, addresses and reference numbers are removed. Then you need only shred the "significant" bits of paper; we put the remainder into the recycling bin.

Like the sound of this. Next job😁

buffyfly9

I have just disposed of mountains of bank statements that my husband has saved since 2016!!!! Our shredder would have blown up. I read somewhere that if you soak the documents in a large washing up bowl overnight they turn to paper maiche, you squeeze them into cricket size balls, they then dry into lightweight lumps. I can confirm that it works, I toss them into the recycling bin. You would be surprised as to how much paper very quickly goes slimy and unreadable, it's quite therapeutic.

This is exactly what I do. Saves so much time. I thought I'd invented this but it seems buffyfly9 got there before me!

Incinerator bin. Cost about £15

Every day, take 10 sheets, from different sources, soak them in water, squelch them, and throw them out with the garbage, along with the incinerating / shredding. Also, separate pages and do not destroy whole documents in one go.

I shred weekly. Seem to stay in front of it.

Perhaps lay aside weekly time, shred piles, bag, dispose.

fancythat

Am I the only poster who wouldnt trust a confidential waste company?

No, I wouldn't trust them either .

I used to be treasurer of a local charity so had piles of paper to shred each year, just keeping the files that had to be kept. When I handed over to the new treasurer he didn't want to store the old stuff so I've been shredding a year at a time. I was down to one year's worth when another new treasurer took over and asked my advice about how I'd categorised things so I happily handed over my last year's files. I still need to deal with a lot of old personal papers though! I have a shredder and do it every now and again when I'm in the mood. Before I retired I gave the shredded paper to a colleague for guinea pig bedding. Not sure what to do with it now though, as too much for the compost. Some of my personal stuff is so old I may just put it straight in the recycling.

I have so much to dispose of from my late husband, dad and mum. I've already worn out one shredder. There are companies that will collect and shred but not sure of the price

Here in Devon we have a large blue plastic bag from the council for waste paper and shredded paper foc that the recycling lorry collects and empties. I shred paper until the bag is about half full which works for me. Bought a Cross shredder from lidl. Not the fastest but works OK.

Isn’t soaking paper in water a waste of water?

In your place, I would sort the papers into two groups:

confidential
others

Anything confidential in the legal sense, in that it was part of your work and you signed a confidentiality clause must be destroyed, as you know. If this pile is too large for your shredder to cope with, or if it simply would take too long, contact your employer (former or present) and ask their advice about destroying these documents.

Unfortunately, not all the firms that claim they destroy confidential papers properly actually do so - confidential papers have been known to crop up in land-fill.

You may want to include things like former drafts of your will in the confidential pile.

The rest, including bank statements and tax returns that are older than the Inland Revenue can demand to see, or that you will need if they should demand an audit going back some years, you can safely put in the recycling bin for paper.

However, if as I suspect, you may be intending to move to a smaller property, do make sure you do not destroy now any receipts for work done on the property, or for items you may decide to sell, rather than hang on to.

If you have more than can go in the recycling bin in one or two goes, which is likely, ring the recycling plant and find out whether you can hand the rest in in plastic sacks, in paper sacks or baled, and if they will collect it, or if you have to take it to the plant

And do remember to remove staples and paper clips from anything you intend to shred, as no shredder can cope with metal.

buffyfly9

I have just disposed of mountains of bank statements that my husband has saved since 2016!!!! Our shredder would have blown up. I read somewhere that if you soak the documents in a large washing up bowl overnight they turn to paper maiche, you squeeze them into cricket size balls, they then dry into lightweight lumps. I can confirm that it works, I toss them into the recycling bin. You would be surprised as to how much paper very quickly goes slimy and unreadable, it's quite therapeutic.

Great idea, I'm going to start doing this. Thank you!

As some have suggested I soak mine to a pulp , they compost very nicely among the veg peelings and plant cuttings . Could take you a while but maybe a bowl at a time ?

We have an incinerator bin. DH and I were both self employed and you have to keep stuff for 7 years . I have a big clear out of our home office every few years .

£500? I have never paid anything like that! Google mobile shredding companies and get some quotes. I’m assuming you haven’t got an entire library to shred!

Thanks all. I found a document-shredding company today and they would charge me about £500 for my stuff! I have far too much to soak in water - and indeed have tried that before and it simply didn't work. I do put some in the compost heap but I've got far too much for that as well.

There are arguments to say that the burning of paper is carbon-neutral if taken alongside the effects of felling trees, though I am a bit sceptical of that.

However, I have to get rid of it all, so I am seriously considering buying an incinerator bin and passing the job to DH.

The place we used to dispose of papers allowed you to see your documents being shredded, if you wished. We didn’t have any state secrets so didn’t bother.

Burning paper pollutes the environment, I don’t think it’s a good idea.

It’s fine until you reach the stage of piles of paper each a couple of feet high! My husband is a shocking hoarder of paperwork! Totally impractical to do anything but get the mobile shredder in.

I’m afraid many companies have no option but to trust the confidential waste disposers fancythat, because of the vast amount of confidential paperwork produced.

I do as Buffyfly9 suggests. I just tear the documents into pieces and soak them in a bowl of water. A few hours later I screw them into balls and get rid of them in the bin.

Am I the only poster who wouldnt trust a confidential waste company?

SporeRB

We bought a bin incinerator from a local shop and burned all our confidential papers.

We do the same. You can buy various sizes of the incinerator bins.

whittled