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CTyankee

(68,164 posts) Mon Sep 17, 2012, 02:30 PM Sep 2012

Is scavenging for scrap metal a bad thing? [View all]

I heard a program on recycling on CT public radio this morning while driving. A question about scavenging came up and the recycling expert on the show said it was a bad practice because
scrap metal is valuable for towns' recycling programs with crews going out and exspending employees time and fuel for the trucks. Their recycling of the metal is very valuable and helps pay for the recycling program. (Because I was running errands I did not hear all of the arguments pro and con but that was basically the charge).

It made me think of the following scenario: If I take an old metal file cabinet I want to get rid of, place it on my front lawn with a sign reading "FREE" and someone picks it up to sell for scrap, am I just as guilty as a scavenger? I see people doing this sort of every now and then...

63 replies

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Is scavenging for scrap metal a bad thing? [View all] CTyankee Sep 2012 OP

Yes and no Marrah_G Sep 2012 #1

On trash pickup day, some guy comes around with a little cart and goes thru people's CTyankee Sep 2012 #7

Dirty rotten poor person - how rude. sad sally Sep 2012 #39

Look before you leap, sad, and see my response to DainBramaged below. CTyankee Sep 2012 #48

Holy shit are you serious? DainBramaged Sep 2012 #45

I'd like him to have the stuff...I just don't like the noise at 4 a.m. CTyankee Sep 2012 #47

A word to the wise, is that some kind of threat? DainBramaged Sep 2012 #55

I happen to suffer from chronic insomnia. If he came at 2 am I'd be awake CTyankee Sep 2012 #56

You suffer from chronic holier than thou syndrome DainBramaged Sep 2012 #60

I am but of only one who begs to touch the hem of your robe, your Holiness! CTyankee Sep 2012 #61

it's bad when they tear it off existing buildings maxsolomon Sep 2012 #2

That is out and out theft. If you are giving stuff away or just throwing it out it is different. CTyankee Sep 2012 #8

They have special "big trash" days here in Japan, too Art_from_Ark Sep 2012 #46

Metal theft is so bad here that scrap yardsnow have to document ID of scrap sellers. dixiegrrrrl Sep 2012 #13

The amount of copper which was "scavenged" in Iraq dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #3

Scrap metal is one of the top US exports -- to china. HiPointDem Sep 2012 #4

Well, I sold some stuff from my dad's garage after he passed. Unfortunately some other people GreenPartyVoter Sep 2012 #5

Re your scenario. If you own it and give it away, it isn't scavenging. Since you can not uppityperson Sep 2012 #6

Some people feel that if someone gets a use out of an item they no longer need, all is good. CTyankee Sep 2012 #9

Be happy if looking tacky, is the worst thing your neighborhood has to worry about. Vincardog Sep 2012 #11

Well, it can be symptomatic of blight. And that is bad for property values. CTyankee Sep 2012 #12

Where I live, it's common practice for people to put unwanted MineralMan Sep 2012 #22

I take a lot of stuff to Goodwill because it is close. But Big Brothers/Big Sisters has called me CTyankee Sep 2012 #23

I don't generate a lot of usable old clothing, frankly. MineralMan Sep 2012 #25

I wear stuff I love out too! But...I have some stuff from when I was working and now just don't CTyankee Sep 2012 #26

That's exactly what I did this summer when I remodeled my kitchen. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2012 #31

+1 robinlynne Sep 2012 #32

Define "scavenging" . The recycling "expert" didn't want his scrap to go missing. What about the Vincardog Sep 2012 #10

I define scavenging as "dumpster diving" only doing it in people's individual trash bins. CTyankee Sep 2012 #14

Then IMO it is a good thing. Vincardog Sep 2012 #16

with the exception that if the container is a "recyclables only" container it is not trash and... yawnmaster Sep 2012 #34

I'm not sure if it is illegal here. It may be, but both trash and garbage is CTyankee Sep 2012 #50

same here with regard to same company and workers and union... yawnmaster Sep 2012 #54

That sounds consistent with what the recycling expert was saying. CTyankee Sep 2012 #57

When I was younger, the little teensy tiny filing cabinets Trillo Sep 2012 #15

well, it is not free in our city since our taxes pay for it. And there is an extra fee for large CTyankee Sep 2012 #18

We have the same thing here. Jamastiene Sep 2012 #35

Too many "scavengers" cross the line into outright theft Retrograde Sep 2012 #17

That is what the recycling expert was saying. So she said there is an option that the city/town CTyankee Sep 2012 #19

Ah, ethics matt819 Sep 2012 #20

If you get the okay from the owner of the metal... Hubert Flottz Sep 2012 #21

We have a once per year "bulky items" trash pickup. hamsterjill Sep 2012 #24

Can't you just put the items out on the day of the pick up? CTyankee Sep 2012 #27

Even if *I* do...not everyone in the neighborhood waits until the last day. hamsterjill Sep 2012 #37

Here we had a scrap metal drive and some jerks started stealing stuff RKP5637 Sep 2012 #29

This message was self-deleted by its author RKP5637 Sep 2012 #28

You used to see junk cars everywhere out here in the country ... no more 1-Old-Man Sep 2012 #30

The issue is I put my stuff out in town recycling trash bins hollysmom Sep 2012 #33

In the case you mention with the file cabinet, I would say it is a good thing. Jamastiene Sep 2012 #36

No, because there's at least an equal chance Warpy Sep 2012 #38

well, mine was hypothetical even tho I do have old metal file cabinets I'd like CTyankee Sep 2012 #41

Actually, people are interested in them, so put them out early Warpy Sep 2012 #44

there`s a women in my town who asks for aluminum cans madrchsod Sep 2012 #40

someone "scavenged" my very cool 1950s metal lawn chairs OUT OF MY FENCED BACKYARD DonRedwood Sep 2012 #42

sorry to hear that. It's sad when that happens... CTyankee Sep 2012 #49

I make a buck or two scrapping metal PD Turk Sep 2012 #43

if i'm to lazy to take it to the yard rsweets Sep 2012 #51

I try not to do that. For one thing, I leave large bags of clothing for CTyankee Sep 2012 #52

It's a bad thing when they steal metal from your property, which happened to me. LeftinOH Sep 2012 #53

American Pickers do it for a living, scavenging vinny9698 Sep 2012 #58

It's what people used to do if they couldn't otherwise find work ck4829 Sep 2012 #59

Problems, problems, problems. Praetor1 Jun 2017 #62

Hi and welcome... WePurrsevere Jun 2017 #63