Is it illegal for people to go through your curbside garbage?

[Luv Bunnies]

Every week when we put our garbage and recycling cans out for pick-up, this lady comes around with a cart and goes through everyone's cans to find recyclables. I understand that she might need the income, but it really ticks me off that someone is going through our garbage. I save all of our plastic drink bottles and aluminum cans so I don't know what she can possibly be finding in our can.

This morning, I watched her from the shower window. She had our cans open for several minutes and was taking things out - things like soup cans. Can she even get money for those? Our garbage was pretty full this week since I cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer. She started pulling out the bags and putting them on the street while she searched through them. Then she put everything back in. Two of the bags contained nothing but the contents of the rabbits' litterboxes!

I didn't want to yell at her from the upstairs window and I couldn't exactly go outside because I was in the shower! Does anyone else have this happening on their street? Does it bother you? I just don't like the idea of someone going through all of our stuff. It makes me feel violated. Is it illegal for her to be doing this?

 

[monkey68]

Happens all the time in my neighborhood. Don't know if it's legal or not, but that's what happens. Usually when we have something that others might want (some clothes or old furniture, or whatnot), we leave it on the sidewalk but not in a trash can, and someone usually takes it during the night.

Just be glad that she put everything back in. Were the soup cans not opened? Maybe she was looking for something to eat?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Were the soup cans not opened? Maybe she was looking for something to eat?

No - all the cans were opened and empty. I've never seen them take those at a recycling center.

 

[JerseyJanice]

My guess is that how illegal it is depends on the ordinances in your town. Call the non-emergency police number and ask them. If it's legal, be very careful to shred documents and any paperwork that could be used against you--stuff like credit card bills and bank statements.

Personally, I am always glad to see someone take our junk if they can use it. Makes me feel better than seeing it all go to landfill. When we threw out our old grill, somebody came by and took most of it. We threw out an air conditioner (because I dropped it out of a second story window--don't ask how or why) and somebody took that. I hope they were able to put the parts to good use.

 

[Pakey]

It's not illegal where we are and our recycle bin is gone through every week before pickup.

It is illegal here to put any kind of animal waste in the garbage cans.

 

[java]

We had a guy that used to do this in our old neighborhood. We didn't have a recycling center at the time. And he would go through collecting our cans ect. He was a little old man.
I started sorting it. And leaving it out for him. If he was in such a situation that he had to go through my garbage for a few cans. Well then I felt like that is enough of a bad situation vs. me making it worse.

 

[DVC Sadie]

After watching several seasons of Law & Order I vote that the trash and recyclables are no longer private property and is "free game" (not illegal) sort of speak.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

My suggestion would be to place out your trash at the last possible minute if you have the luxury to do that. If not, then I would try not to let it bother you.

 

[Rafiki31]

We have a lot of people that do that here as well, and I do not mind as long as they do not make a mess. There is one group of ladies that comes in a pack and they dump your cans out on the ground then leave the mess. They are messy and very loud and come around 5am and wake everyone up. I did call the police on them, but they still come around every so often, so it must not be illegal to dump trash all over peoples yard. I was told I need to get their license plate number and file my own complaint, but nothing will likely come of it.

Be thankful your person is respectful and neat! Nothing worse than cleaning up trash on a Monday morning on your way to work.

 

[lewdyan1]

We had a guy that used to do this in our old neighborhood. We didn't have a recycling center at the time. And he would go through collecting our cans ect. He was a little old man.
I started sorting it. And leaving it out for him. If he was in such a situation that he had to go through my garbage for a few cans. Well then I felt like that is enough of a bad situation vs. me making it worse.

What a nice thing to do!

 

[trip]

It's not illegal where we are and our recycle bin is gone through every week before pickup.

It is illegal here to put any kind of animal waste in the garbage cans.

Where do you put it if not in the garbage?

 

[AntePrincess]

Where do you put it if not in the garbage?

Composter.

 

[HERSEY]

From what I've read you shouldn't add pet waste to your regular composite bin or pile.

 

[WDWBarb]

Several years ago, we put a great deal of trash on the curb (a major "Spring Cleaning"). The garbage man pulled the garbage truck in my driveway, opened all the bags, sorted out what he wanted in my driveway and took his time doing it. I went out to leave, not realizing until I opened my garage door what he was doing, and he told me he'd be "done in awhile." I couldn't get him to get out of my way! I was late for my appointment.

For what it's worth, I was told at the time that once I put my trash on the curb, it was no longer my property.

 

[momrek06]

OP, just make sure you own a SHREDDER.

 

[N.Bailey]

There is nothing illegal about it though I can understand your frustration.

California v. Greenwood
California v. Greenwood, 486 U.S. 35 (1988)[1], was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Fourth Amendment does not prohibit the warrantless search and seizure of garbage left for collection outside the curtilage of a home.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_v._Greenwood

The 4th amendment of course guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.

In the above case, the U.S. Supreme Court held that there is no common law expectation of privacy for discarded materials.

A bit down in the wiki article:
Although Greenwood had hidden the trash from view by putting in opaque plastic bags and expected it to be on the street only a short time before it would be taken to the dump, the Court believed it to be “common knowledge” that garbage at the side of the street is “readily accessible to animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and other members of the public.” Moreover, Greenwood had left the trash there expressly so that the trash collector, a stranger, could take it.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

From what I've read you shouldn't add pet waste to your regular composite bin or pile.

Eww you are correct. Only from vegetarians like horses or cows.

 

[KerriSue]

There was a little older lady in my neighborhood that did the same thing! So I thought, why should I supplement her income, I will save the cans for myself.

So I saved.

And saved.

More saving.

Then I finally took in about 5 months worth of soda can (big soda drinkers) and guess how much I got----an entire $10.00

That was the end of my saving. If the little old lady would like to save and save and then drive to the recycle center for the little bit of money it is worth then she is welcome to it

 

[disney1990]

Never mind.

 

[pipersmom]

I suspect she's probably taking the soup and other cans to a scrap metal place, and not your typical recycling center. I'm with the shredder idea..other than that, as long as she's not making a mess, I wouldn't worry about it.