Residents staying home during coronavirus crisis are spring cleaning -- too much, trash haulers say

[riversedge]

I actually thought of stopping by GoodWill this weekend--looking for a used bird feeder. But now know they are closed.



Residents staying home during coronavirus crisis are spring cleaning — too much, trash haulers say

https://www.twincities.com/2020/04/01/residents-sheltering-in-place-during-coronavirus-crisis-are-spring-cleaning-too-much-according-to-trash-haulers/

By Bob Shaw | [e-mail] | Pioneer Press


PUBLISHED: April 1, 2020 at 10:36 a.m. | UPDATED: April 2, 2020 at 3:30 a.m.


A curious side-effect of coronavirus has emerged: the urge to purge.

Trash haulers are groaning under the weight of extra garbage and household junk being discarded.

Their customers — forced to stay at home under the shelter in place directive — are apparently using the time to clean out attics, basements and garages.

“It’s a way for people to stay busy. You can only go out for a walk so much,” said Julie Ketchum, spokeswoman for Waste Management, which has customers across the metro area. “But we can’t let that overwhelm our system.”

GOODWILL NOT OPEN, GARAGE SALES IN DOUBT

The garbage glut has been made worse by the closure of donation centers including Goodwill Industries.

The other big outlet for junk — garage sales — faces an uncertain fate this spring. The Lions Club Garage Sale in Woodbury, the largest such event in the state, has postponed the May event until September.

With no place to donate unwanted stuff, residents pitch it into the trash.

On some streets in the Twin Cities area this week, the fallout from coronavirus was unmistakable: overflowing garbage cans flanked by bags of old toys, boxes of outdated clothes and bins of books and tools.


HAULER ASKS CUSTOMERS NOT TO PILE GARBAGE OUTSIDE TRASH BINS..............................

[TexasProgresive]

1. The people who haul away our trash

are heroes as well, forgotten but vital.

[tanyev]

2. Yep, my library usually accepts donations of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs,

but they've shut down for now. I heard that people were still leaving that stuff, just setting it down on the outside loading dock and driving off.

[OKNancy]

5. I'm going to put a table in my driveway

and put books and baskets and stuff on it and announce on NextDoor that all will be free. (I'm moving in May)

[OKNancy]

3. That's me! Except a complication

I'm moving. I decided to move in December and my house has already sold. THe move date is May26th and I'm seriously downsizing. No garage sale and I don't know what to do with some of my good stuff. Not the junk but nice things I have.
I'm trying to give away things as best I can, but I think a storage unit may be best and then have my daughter try to sell things later when this mess gets better.

I just called the bulky waste pickup service my city offers. Getting rid of once useful things... lol

[AlexSFCA]

4. guilty is charged

and home improvement big time. Thankfully hardware stores remain open. You can’t please everyone. They want us to just watch tv hut if all do it, internet will shut down.

[raccoon]

6. Glad to hear that. I was planning on doing some clutter

Reducing, but for the sake of the garbage collectors, I’ll refrain from doing so. 😄