Let’s say it costs €100 to digitize each bag, that’s only €1,600,000 significantly less than what has already been spent.
I wouldn’t for €100 sign up to scan even an office wastebasket (6-8 gallon) bag of torn-up paper. Make it €2000 for that quantity, and we’ll start talking.
I can’t speak for what their bags are like, but ours were basically large, thick, grocery-size paper bags without handles. Thick enough that they most likely wouldn’t tear, even if they were full and mid-handled somewhat. You rolled down the top and stapled them shut.
Like these: https://live.staticflickr.com/4129/4987369106_ab71780b90_z.j...
But we didn’t shred our documents first. We just put in whole sheets and reams of paper, and we left it up to them to shred first and then burn. But then, that was 1989.
Agreed, €100 seems low to process a single bag.