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Getting rid of documents

(64 Posts)
Madmeg Thu 27-Feb-25 10:16:03

As part of my mega-clearout of rubbish I need to get rid of a very large quantity of papers from my "study". We have lived here for 42 years and my career meant I handled a lot of paperwork, much of which is confidential, plus 42 years worth of household stuff like bank statements etc. I have a shredder but it will take hours/days/weeks to do it all and the machine is only a cheapo.

Any ideas as to how to get rid of it all safely/quickly/not too expensively? Bonfire comes to mind but not sure it is safe!

I intended to scan the remainder and ditch the paperwork but worried that technology might change and it wouldn't be retrievable.

Caleo Sat 08-Mar-25 13:21:22

Two plastic folders with my birth cert, most recent bank statement, utility bill, and old drivers licence were accidentally left on the ground of a public carpark, last month. To date nobody returned them to me or to the bank. They have in effect been stolen., probably by a casual lifter. The police and others advised me the person who took the documents can do nothing with them.

I console myself that most people are not criminals but simply lazy and /or ignorant.

Calendargirl Sat 08-Mar-25 16:41:42

Where did they get your plastic folders Caleo?

Did they break into your home?

Caleo Sat 08-Mar-25 17:45:00

C Girl, my folders with document were to be for my lawyer to see to identify me with. I was being put into my wheel chair to go from the carpark to the office when my carer placed them on the ground and forgot to pick them up. I myself should have paid more attention, but it's my habit to not micro manage helpers.

Calendargirl Sun 09-Mar-25 07:35:21

Thanks Caleo, I realise what you meant now!

BlueBelle Sun 09-Mar-25 07:47:46

Am I the only poster who just tears them up and chucks them in the paper bin
I would trust confidential paid workers about as much as I trust the bin men but bin men are a lot cheaper 🤣maybe there is an advantage to not owning too much and not using paper bills
If I was really worried I do the soak over night bit but I m not
Life’s so simple when you don’t own a lot 🤣🤣🤣

fancythat Sun 09-Mar-25 08:24:31

SuperTinny

There really is no need to be suspicious about confidential waste disposal companies.

They abide by industry standards. They do what they say on the tin.

Who trusts humanity? Strangers.

Ironically, there is a thread just now of people despairing about the world.

mokryna Sun 09-Mar-25 08:33:10

If you can’t burn the papers, like me, soak the sheets in a bath of water for a few hours and then mash into small shapes.

Sago Sun 09-Mar-25 09:05:55

We went to the confidential waste company on Friday, a huge sack was £7 to be destroyed.

It’s worth every penny.

CotswoldGrannie Sun 09-Mar-25 09:45:04

I recently went through decades of my Father’s hoarded correspondence.

I tore off only the identifying information, usually found at the top of the front page of statements, letters and so on, then put those parts through the shredder and put the rest of the pages in a paper bank at his local recycling centre.

The remaining information means nothing if it can’t identify the person to whom the correspondence is addressed, so there was much less to shred and it was quite manageable.

I left older documentation untouched and gradually placed it in my own paper recycling bin over a few weeks.

crazyH Sun 09-Mar-25 09:50:12

Household incinerator

Iam64 Mon 12-May-25 19:39:08

I’ve finally agreed to most things like bank/insurance/utilities etc being saved online. I much prefer paper but can see the benefits of paper
I shred docs that could give details I don’t want out there

Georgesgran Tue 13-May-25 02:14:36

SPAMMERS AT IT, AGAIN!

Macadia Tue 13-May-25 03:48:32

fancythat

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

Haha. Well said. I would never trust them either .