I was "Garbage Picked" last night

I believe , LEGALLY, once you put garbage out it CAN be taken......

Neither here nor there.

So DH and I had a lot of crap. A craftsman tool chest that was BUSTED. It was only 4 drawers (A stand alone tool box) but some of the drawers don't even open because its really dented.

We had old used Rotors from his car (still in the box). But they were used.

This morning the tool box and rotors were gone.

What worries me is someone might try to sell used rotors and the recipient could have a safety issue.

I don't care that we were "picked"...but what do you want with an old busted tool chest and used rotors?

Sell for scrap?

And if you are picking that -ish off my garbage, are you casing the neighborhood?

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

Where I live they do two big bulk pick ups a year. People throw out a ton of stuff and it's known that we get a lot of people from out of the area driving around in pick up trucks and picking up garbage on the curb.

Some people bring the metal to scrap metal places for money, they can use parts to fix something they have or if it's not in bad condition it just needs some TLC...

Rather someone else get use out of it then go in the trash anyway. I just hate it when they make a huge mess. We put out some old pots and people actually dumped out some of the dirt in them and took the pots so we had dirt all over the street.

Only thing a lot of people don't realize around here is they don't take TV's and then they sit out in front of their house for a few months.

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

There are some people where all they do is drive around looking for scrap. They usually do it late at night or early AM; when they know its a "garbage day".

I am sure they cash all this stuff in or some things depending on what it is; people like to refurbish.

I really wouldn't put too much worry in it. It happens more often than you know; and its harmless.

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I've seen pick up trucks drive up and down the streets in our neighborhood on garbage nights, especially Sunday night. They look at the garbage that is out and stop and take what they want. I've seen the truck fill up just going up and down a few blocks.

One man's trash is anothers treasure.

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

I'm sure they picked it up for scrap.

It's pretty common for people to do this.

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

It happens to us every garbage night. I didn't think it was unusual or anything to worry about.

I put out a huge dresser that no charity would take and it was gone in like 2 hours. I was so happy someone saved it from the trash.

A broken BBQ grill- gone

Broken lawn furniture.

Old TVs

I think it's great.

Most people will sell the old stuff for scrap or figure out ways to fix and repurpose it.

Better than it ending up in a landfill

Message edited 6/11/2015 10:21:07 AM.

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People pick all the time. I have a neighbor that does it. IMO its not a big deal. They are selling this stuff to scrap yards.

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

People come around and collect metal out of the garbage to sell for scrap. I think it's great actually - I get rid of my old crap and they make a few bucks. I don't see a problem with it.

I was

Fair. I'm not WORRIED......just a little perplexed. And I wasn't really bothered by it.

It makes sense now.

To be BRUTALLY honest: I wasn't sure the garbage men would take the broken tookbox or rotors. These guys did me a favor!

Message edited 6/11/2015 10:49:07 AM.

I was

This thread is confusing!

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

Yeah, totally not a big deal. This happens ALL the time. They sell the metal.

I was

My nephew scrapped while he was in college. He'd take anything metal people wanted to get rid of and he'd bring it to a recycling place where it was separated into various metals and bought.

When I emptied my mother's house I put all sorts of stuff out front - sometimes with a "Free" sign, others not - and people took everything. I was amazed. I'm thinking of wheeling an old Webber gas grill out front and leaving it. It works, but slowly. I'll bet someone will take it.

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

Not sure about metal but growing up, my mom is a big purger - she gets rid of stuff constantly - and anytime she put anything out to that curb we had pickers, no matter what it was. We would chuckle and think, who would want that?? Because to us it was garbage -- but one man's trash...

In all the years my parents have lived where they live and done that they never had a break-in or anything, knock wood, so I wouldn't worry about that. But yeah it's pretty common - people love to collect! And metal? I know they can sell that stuff so yeah.

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

Are you worried they might "sue" you if they get hurt using broken equipment? That wouldn't hold up, so I really wouldn't wouldn't worry about it at all. What's that saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure" ;) I put a broken dryer out a few months ago. Gone in 10 minutes.

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

I was

We have people looking through the garbage on our street every week before garbage pickup. We will put things out and it will be gone within minutes. I think most people just scrap it for cash.

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We put out a broken washing machine last year and within a half hour someone was trying to get it into a truck. I made my husband go out and help and it ended up being someone he knew in HS (and didn't get along with then haha). Awkwaaard

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Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

I think people do case the neighborhood- it's their second income, or maybe even first. Not to do anything illegal, but to pick up scrap metal or items they can re-purpose and maybe resell. Better in someone else's hands than left on the street on in our landfills and oceans.

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

Posted by tray831

Posted by Katareen

This thread is confusing!

I'm confused that you're confused?

Re: I was "Garbage Picked" last night

I was

I get annoyed when people don't take the big stuff. I say I never want to leave my neighborhood bc stuff is always gone within an hour or so.

Dh actually scored a perfect condition outdoor kids table someone threw out. He drove by a house, saw it, called me and I was like hell yeah. I got a brand new umbrella for $5 off a mom board and she uses it all the time.