“Theft”?
Yesterday evening, I walked to the grocery store and encountered multiple elderly, Asian folks carrying humongous bags over their shoulders and checking curbside recycling bins. This is a normal occurrence in our neighborhood Sunday evening, the day before trash day. I thought to myself how resourceful it is that they are picking up what other people throw away and turning it in for money. They are working very hard for surely very little, but it must be enough money to help them make ends meet. I always greet these clever hard workers with a smile and wonder if there is some way I could help them by leaving what they need in plain sight so they don’t have to search for it.
Tonight, I happened to find out that Sunset Scavenger, our local waste service, encourages you to report recycling theft. Now I’m supposed to believe that they should be reported as thieves? The city says that it’s OK for me to turn in my recycling for cash, but once I put it in the bin it’s their property and revenue. When I throw something in a trash can, I consider it public property. If someone in need can benefit from my garbage, fantastic!
SparklieSunShine said,
June 17, 2008 @ 6:49 am
I absolutely agree with you. You’re supposed to turn them in like they are stealing people’s property? I wonder what the penalty is. I’m totally with you. If someone can make ends meet by turning in my old recycling then I think that is fantastic. Now if they were stealing it and dumping it in a land fill I would be mad, but that is HIGHLY unlikely. lol.
MomMega said,
June 17, 2008 @ 9:01 pm
Ha! You know what’s funny? My FIL refuses to put anything in the recycling bin because he doesn’t want people digging through it!! Ridiculous!
P.S. I came over from All Mediocre!