Hello,
Any ideas on how I can destroy personal out of date documents and papiers like old bank statements etc ?
I have a supermarket bag full of docs to get rid of.
Burning is tricky, a shredder would maybe do the job though I feel it would not be cost effective to buy one. I could put them in bags and take them to the tip.
I can’t find any municipal office which can destroy them but there are companies who will destroy them for a fée though would they accept such a small quantity ?
Thanks
Cross cut shredder, start at just under 35€ from Amazon, then take to tip.
Used “destructeur de documents” on LBC. Nearly 400 of them under 20 euros.
Use and then give to Emmaus or another charity.
Do you have a wood burning stove? If you only have a shopping bag full, you could use them as firelighters - burn a few each night.
Other shops available, including local ones like bureau vallée which has one for €19
Thanks for your ideas
Yes Sue, I do have a woodburner so that is possible of course though I’m a bit wary of those papers flying around the neighborhood.
I did buy a shredder the last time I had a doc clear out and it gave up after about an hour. I only fed a few sheets each time but it broke quite quickly so I’m not happy about buying a new machine. The second hand machine idea sounds a better option.
Screw the sheets into balls, and lay them in the bottom of the stove. No chance of them going up the chimney.
I’m about to do the same thing.
Good idea, thanks
I too have a cheap and cheerful shredder. I feed single sheets through at a time. Tedious beyond belief but the shredder copes.
Also, very important to clear the bin frequently, otherwise the shredded bits of paper can begin to block the shedding mechanism. It’s important the shreds fall away from the knives.
A good pair of scissors, while watching a good movie 
A dozen tightish balls in the bottom, few scraps of kindling on top, then some logs arranged to allow air to flow between. 10min later it’s roaring away. 
How about soaking in a bucket of water then, when soaked, mash them up.
And then make seed pots out of it that you can just plant.
Just buy a well reviewed shredder - my Amazon Basics one hasted about 10 years.
Remind me how long we are required by law to keep such documents, it must have been repealed now though with so many going over to online documents.
I have lived here for 27 years and have never got rid, but it would be nice to see the sunrise at least once before I go. 
Oh, hang on a moment, I still wouldn’t see it, there are trees there now. 
@David_Spardo
Re how many years to keep documents… this link is the official Fr Govt site and shows all the info (I hope)
if anyone has more sites.. let’s have 'em… please
Thanks Stella, more complicated than I thought, different things for different things. Perhaps I knew that way back and decided simply to stay straight by keeping everything.
I was joking above, I hardly notice the bulk of papers in reality so I think I will make life easier and carry on. 
When I did a document clearout recently I started off using a shredder, but it quickly got jammed.
I then switched to burning them in a garden incinerator - using a couple of firelighter blocks to get them started. I was surprised how fast they burned, and just turned into flaky grey ash.
I was able to drop in whole files (manila folder and documents, and in some cases CDs) and they burned very well. No ash flying around as the incinerator lid keeps everything inside.
This kind of thing - about £18 on Amazon:
