Creepy, my trash is missing

[suzannews]

I was cleaning out the garage last night and hauled a bunch of junk to the curb as today is trash day. When I got up this morning to take DD to the bus stop, I noticed some of it is gone. There was some broken computer parts that were put out not in a bag that I don't care about but a black trash bag with junk in it that was sitting next to the trash can is also gone. So, is someone driving around my neighborhood at night looking for trash? I think I'll wait to the morning of from now on.

 

[starwood]

There are people that go around picking up other peoples trash. I don't know what they use it for but I'd much rather someone take it and use it (if they can) or sell it (if they can) than have it end up in the landfill.

Our last bulk pick-up day we threw out an old computer, fax machine and printer. Someone took the computer about an hour after I put it out and the next morning the fax machine was gone (but strangely enough they cut the receiver off and left that).

 

[beckanoah]

There are also people who use trash for identity theft.

Some meth users will sit for days and put back together shredded information. Just an FYI. They don't have anything else to do when they're tweaking.


(sorry to freak you out, but it freaks me out)

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I hope you shredded all of your personal information. My wife and I shred all of our personal information as a security measure. Ok, now that I got you in a state overy personal information, let me say that in my old neighborhood people would go around on trash day looking through trash and digging out cans and bottles and such. Who knows, but I'd be more carefull in the future.

 

[donald&daisy]

My mom always told me if I ever wanted to get rid of anything to just set it outside by the road and someone would pick it up. Of course, I think she meant with a sigh that says "free." People will take anything. It is a little creepy, but if it was trash anyway I wouldn't let it bother me. Unless your trash has credit card info, etc in it. Then it would probably be a good idea to wait until the morning. Our trash comes so early that we never see it, so we have to take ours out the night before. And we get up around 6:30-7...

 

[Hannathy]

Why would it bother you that someone took it? And why would you wait till morning to put it out? How is it hurting you for someone to take something you were getting rid of anyway? I know a lot of people who go around checking out trash for furniture pieces to salvage or parts for things. To me it seems kinda mean and selfish to keep it till morning if you are just throwing it away and someone could make use of it but to send it to the landfill just to spite them.

 

[JR6ooo4]

We still have an old fashion junk man. or men. they drive around and recycle heavy metal objects like air conditioners, stoves, aluminum siding, etc...

I guess even computers. I saw a show where some company recycles the computers removing all the harmful elements that should not go into a landfil and also getting the gold from them also. You didn't know you were throwing away gold, did you?

Mikeeee

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We've left items we no longer want by the curb and someone almost always comes along and takes them.

 

[Evil Genius]

I just threw out a bed and some broken bookshelves. They were gone in an hour. That's pretty much the norm in our area. If it was just a bag of junk, so what? Maybe they cut a small hole in the bag to make sure it wasn't household garbage.

 

[freckles and boo]

We have regular scavengers and trash pickers. If there is something that I think will get "picked" I put it out the day before trash pick-up day so they get a chance at it before the garbage men come. They are usually looking for metals to recycle. They also will pick up and repair old furniture. They are respectful, never dig through the barrel, and never make a mess in the alley. Anyone who really dug through the garbage would stand out and one of our senior neighbors would likely call to report it.

 

[Cantw8]

you can have my trash

 

[outlander]

One man's trash *really is* another man's treasure!

 

[cinmell]

I don't know why but I hate when people pick thru our garbage. I put the trash out on trash day, not the night before.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I don't see what's "creepy" about it. If I put something big out I assume it will be gone by the next day. We've gotten a lot of our backyard toys that way. We also got a really nice armoire that we refinished.


DH has also picked up computers and used the parts. One thing I can't believe is that people just put computers on the curb with all of their files still on it .

 

[chris1gill]

I hope you shredded all of your personal information. My wife and I shred all of our personal information as a security measure. Ok, now that I got you in a state overy personal information, let me say that in my old neighborhood people would go around on trash day looking through trash and digging out cans and bottles and such. Who knows, but I'd be more carefull in the future.

I have to agree on this, before people put their trash out, their personal data MUST be shredded.... people go around going through trash getting personal identification...

 

[chesirechik]

If we have anything like a bookshelf or CD rack or anything like that, that we are throwing away, we always put it out early in case someone drives by and wants it. It's pretty normal in my neighborhood. Our trash pick up in Monday morning so it's pretty common to see stuff in people's driveways all weekend with "free" signs on them. DH & I actually got our chandelier this way. It had hardly been used. I don't see the big deal. It's better than it going to a landfill.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

Our "regular" trash always goes in a trash bag and then in the municipal trash can, so I doubt we'd ever see anyone going through that stuff.

But for "big" stuff we always end up putting it out the night before and fully expect that it might be gone by the time the trash truck comes by. We even put out our old washing machine the day before bulk trash day in the hopes that someone would come by and take it. Sure enough, it was gone the next morning!

 

[emmabelle]

My neighbor once thought that her trash had been stolen, but low and behold once the snow melted two weeks later she found her trash.

 

[wendy46001]

dumpster divers are a norm around here
our record is 30min for an old grill

while i shred anything with personal info and we whype clean any old computers ....if someone wants my trash they are welcome to it...

 

[Green Tea]

My mom always told me if I ever wanted to get rid of anything to just set it outside by the road and someone would pick it up. Of course, I think she meant with a sigh that says "free." People will take anything. .

My dad used to say if he was to put something out with a free sign, no one would take it thinking it was junk. But if he put it in the same place with a "For Sale $15," someone would come snatch it and quick. Good way to get rid of things that can't go into the trash, I assume!