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View Full Version : POLL : "Who wants to be a licensed trash scavenger?"



Jolie Rouge
09-09-2003, 09:04 AM
My sis & I were discussing this


Ex-mayor wants to license trash scavengers in Pittsburgh suburb
Sunday, September 7, 2003 Posted: 7:01 PM EDT

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/09/07/offbeat.trash.treasures.ap/index.html

Could a treasure be hiding among this garbage?
Some in Pennsylvania say, "yes."


WHITEHALL, Pennsylvania (AP) -- One person's trash is another's treasure -- reason enough to license trash scavengers, according to the former mayor of this Pittsburgh suburb.

"So much stuff is thrown away today, especially in suburbia," said 85-year-old Edwin Brennan, whose 14-year tenure in the middle-class borough ended a decade ago. "It's wasteful to do that."

Brennan asked the borough council last week to consider licensing a limited number of scavengers who would pay $10 each to scour curbside trash to use or resell.

The borough outlawed scavengers after residents complained strangers were going through the garbage.

The licenses are "just to make sure we know who's out there, so if a patrol car sees a particular vehicle that's licensed, we know who that guy is," said police chief William Schmitt, recalling he once reclaimed cooling fans a neighbor had thrown out.

"Everybody did it," Schmitt said.

Brennan said an old desk he once left at the curb was taken by a neighbor who left behind ice skates that fit Brennan's daughter perfectly.

"It's hard to part with all these things. You put them aside and say, 'I'd like to get rid of them,' but you never do," Brennan said. "Your heirs do."


So the question is :

Would you pay to pick up curb side treasures if the permits prohitted others from doing so ?

>or<

They couldn't pay me to go through other peoples trash !

zitra
09-09-2003, 09:07 AM
Originally posted by Jolie Rouge
My sis & I were discussing this


So the question is :

Would you pay to pick up curb side treasures if the permits prohitted others from doing so ?

>or<

They couldn't pay me to go through other peoples trash !

I guess I would say..no I would not pay to pick uo "curb side treasure" and don't think the city/government has any right to make a law like that.

GeThang
09-09-2003, 09:31 AM
All I can say is ewwwwwwwwwww. LOL

Jolie Rouge
09-09-2003, 09:39 AM
I would pay - if it meant that I would get first pick ! I have picked up antique furniture, working tv's and vcr's, garden tools, box fans and electic heaters, Little Tykes "outside toys" and more. Recently picked up a child carrier for my bike - not a thing wrong with it. ToysR Us was selling same model for $120.00.

Some peeps do not want to be "bothered" with dealing with the hassle of selling things they no longer need, rather than donating them or something; they simply "curb" it.

It is like recycling, I will pick up things in good condition and drop them at the local charitites rather than see it go to the dump or landfill.

KitaKat
09-09-2003, 09:46 AM
I agree with Jolie... I would if it was antiques and the like... now actually going through nasty smelly garbage, well... thats another story... blech! :p

schsa
09-09-2003, 10:01 AM
I am not interested in their food waste or culling through their cat litter but people throw out stuff that isn't really trash. My neighbor picked up an expensive lawn mower, replaced the little thingie that you pull to get it started and it worked. I have furniture that has come from people's trash that once it was cleaned up and painted looked wonderful.

Just because you don't want it any more doesn't mean that I wouldn't mind aquiring it and if you don't want to do a garage sale, let me pick it up and take it home.

Legion600
09-09-2003, 02:34 PM
Oh yeah I would do it! I live in a little college town and we go dumpster diving at the end of Spring Quarter. We've found stereo speakers, $200 computer speakers, kids video tapes, furniture that is perfectly good, expensive kids clothes, exercise equipment, and dozens of other things.
A lot of people will toss stuff because they don't want to move it or don't need it anymore.

Some towns have passed laws forbidding this practice but thankfully mine hasn't.

Unicornmom77
09-09-2003, 02:59 PM
I WOULD DO AND PAY A FEE FOR A "licence" WE CALL IT CURB SALES OR I call up friend and say "hey lets go curb shoppin" I agree, it is like recycling. You wouldnt beleive the things you can and I have gotton off the curb. Also here in KY in my town, You can go to the local "drop off site" and they keep "larger" things aside that won't fit into the compacter and you can go by and they will give you whatever you want. Like 2x4's or swing sets, and lots of things. I dont think there is anything wrong with it, NOW I can't see "digging" through garbage bags! It would be hazourdous!! LOL

nonda
09-09-2003, 05:55 PM
I would do it in a heartbeat!!! I'm a dumpster diver at heart!!!! My dumba$$ little town (pop 1300) has an ordinance against it.....

stresseater
09-09-2003, 09:51 PM
Oh yeah, in a heartbeat. I don't think they need to pass a law, they should repeal the law that says you can't dumpster dive. I'm not sure if it is legal here but I do it a lot. :D :D If it weren't for that we would have never been able to fix up this house.:cool: :cool:

janelle
09-09-2003, 09:59 PM
Towns probably have a law cause of sue happy people. I can just see someone suing the city cause they got hurt dumpster diving.:rolleyes:

I would like to dumpster dive outside of Wallmart or other really nice upscale stores. See what they throw away.