May 12, 2008
by Steve-O
This post by Zac Crain about bulk trash scavangers got me to thinking.
Do you mind when people take things out of your bulk trash pile? I mean, it’s really just recycling. You don’t want the stuff. Who cares if someone else does? Does it bother you?
Have you ever taken anything out of someone else’s bulk trash? If so, is there any etiquette involved? Do you have to ask? Do you send a thank-you note?
If it doesn’t bother you for people to go through your bulk trash pile, how about your trash can? But why should that be different?
Whaddya think?
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12 Comments, Comments or Pings
Anton
Broken link G. Has an extra “/Oe” that doesn’t look like it’s supposed to be there…
May 12th, 2008
Pete G
FIXED…Thanks Anton
May 12th, 2008
Chewy
I don’t have a problem with them taking bulk trash provided they don’t scatter the pile too bad. I’d much rather see someone use it than it go to the landfill.
I do have a problem with going through trash cans mainly because the likelihood (sp?) of anything of value is slim and the likelihood of them scattering or tumping it over is higher. I also don’t like the idea of people getting comfortable going through trash cans as I keep my trash cans towards the back of my house when it’s not trash day. I don’t necesarilly (sp? again) like the idea of someone walking down my driveway. Out on the curb which is actually city property is one thing. Walking deep onto my private property is another.
I haven’t taken bulk trash but I have taken stuff from a recycling place when I was a kid and we were dropping of some metal. It was an axle we later used for a small trailer.
May 13th, 2008
Pete Wann
Sometimes I get a little disappointed when there’s something good in my pile that sits out there for a while. It’s like, “What? My no-longer-useful-to-me stuff isn’t good enough for scavengers?”
We have a big pile of cedar limbs out in front of our house right now. Apparently the city either won’t take it, or they’re taking their sweet-ass time getting around to us. Next to the pile of akimbo limbs was a nice stack of neatly cut up cedar logs. Those lasted a week, and someone came and got them in the middle of the night.
I MUCH prefer that someone come and take what they can use, vs. sending it to the landfill.
May 13th, 2008
Jonathan
cedar? what’s your address again?
(serious, email me, I have a chimnea that demands fodder on these cool nights)
May 13th, 2008
Southside Dude
I agree with P W - don’t you hate it when the scavengers determine your stuff is “not worthy”?
I’ll tell you what bothers me about scavengers - when they beat me to it. A neighbor recently tossed out their old motel chairs. They had 6 of ‘em on the curb. What a score! So, stupid me, I went home and asked the wife if it was ok to get them. By the time I got back, the ones in the best condition were gone. I got 2 and spray-painted them metallic blue and they are awesome. I just wish I’d gotten the better ones.
Recently I was out bike-riding with my daughters in the pull-behind stroller. I found a neighbor dumping some great baskets - perfect condition. I got 2 of them and was going back for more, but the good scavengers go there before me - they were loading the rest of the baskets in their van! Curses, foiled again! So, it should be pretty obvious that I’m the FW equivalent Fred Sanford living around neighbors with hi-tone garbage!
I have no problem with scavengers on the bulk pickup. Nor do I have issues with people going to through my recycling on the curb getting cans. There are probably liability issues associated with it, but that, to me, is ths spirit of bulk trash. I know it’s not the official city line, but it’s junk that I don’t want and I’m disposing of it, so what difference is it to me if someone takes it vs. the city? I see 3 big good differences:
Difference #1) Someone else gets some use out of it
Difference #2) It’s not more stuff in the landfill (yet)
Difference #3) The city truck has less to do when scavengrers beat them. We save on the amount of trucks and labor we need to do the bulk pickup.
May 13th, 2008
cozette
It is certainly a good thing pilfering from someones trash pile isn’t illegal.
Think about it.
Steve-O pilfers an article from FWWeekly about Mayor Mike Moncrief and Kevin (Ftworthology) takes a April Fools Joke off another local board and post if here as fact.
Why don’t y’all change your name to Journalism Mockery?
May 13th, 2008
Bernie
Posting comments here is a privilege, not a right. Try to keep your tone civil, John. And try to stick to the topic at hand.
I’m all for the recycling of bulk trash items. In fact, I’ve been seriously considering collecting as much stuff as I can on bulk pickup week. The other day I noticed a house that had a giant pile of shredded wood from where they’d had a tree removed… I got as much of that for my compost pile as I could fit on the big dummy.
Currently I’m seeking cinder blocks, so I may do a bike ride looking for several of those this weekend. Anybody want to come with?
A TCU professor wrote a book on the subject: http://www.nyupress.org/product_info.php?products_id=3821
May 13th, 2008
Steve-O
I like how Southside Dude rolls, throwing down the Sanford and Son reference. I never thought of putting out bulk trash as an ego test, but I guess you just have to put yourself out there sometimes and hope that your trash is worthy.
Regarding trash, I still think of it as kind of a violation, although I shouldn’t. I shred more papers than Oliver North, so there is nothing in my trash worth finding. And then there’s the cat poo. It would take a rather bold soul to want to get into my trash. But if they want that one can I forgot to recycle ….
May 13th, 2008
Dustin
I made use of a nice, solid wood bookshelf I found on a curb outside an office once. Up until this past weekend, I had a use for it. So I placed it on the curb with a sign on it “Free”
It was gone in 4 minutes. We timed it…
So I, too, am a believer in “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”
May 14th, 2008
peteg
My sweetest score from the trash heap was a fully functional, practically new stereo. I used for like 10 years, until I passed it on to my lil bro when I got the surround sound. It still works! I love America! Land of plenty! Where the streets are lined with high quality, working Japanese electronics!
May 14th, 2008
Steve-O
If you want to talk about a score, my homeboy J found this on the street in Brooklyn.
May 14th, 2008
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