General Discussion

The_Commonist

(2,518 posts)

14. Do I know what happens to anything once it leaves my sight?

Mon Jun 29, 2015, 06:16 PM

Jun 2015

I can just put any old stuff out on the curb on Thursday nights, (except electronics) and the garbage men will take it. Or if it's got a "FREE" sign on it, maybe someone who can use it will take it first.

Do I know what happens to all that recycling that I put out in separate bags?
Yes... I do... It all ends up in one big pile at a transfer station somewhere and then it goes to the landfill.

I really think this is a dumb line of questioning you've got going here, but then I'm sanctimonious, so of course I would think that.

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Curbside "free stuff", sanctimonious environmental destruction. [View all] PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 OP

I put out free wood from my oak trees. a lot of people have efficient wood burning fireplaces, hollysmom Jun 2015 #1

I see a lot of electronics in my neighbourhood on the curbs PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #2

we call the town and they pick it up to recycle once a week. hollysmom Jun 2015 #11

older computers w0nderer Jun 2015 #75

I don't know, seems to work pretty well around here... The_Commonist Jun 2015 #3

Do you know what happens with it after it is gone? n/t PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #4

Do you know what the "corporate charity" (Goodwill, Salvation Army) does with it . . . Journeyman Jun 2015 #13

In my state, we have state run e-cycle program that they work with PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #25

Do I know what happens to anything once it leaves my sight? The_Commonist Jun 2015 #14

Because 'houses of charity' are VERY picky about what they'll take. MADem Jun 2015 #5

My area does not have that "one large item" program. PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #9

Wish I could have had that "one large item program" where I lived 10 years ago... cascadiance Jun 2015 #36

I am sorry PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #38

Everywhere I have lived in USA has, but I have lived in cities or MADem Jun 2015 #79

Because there's a lot of stuff houses of charity won't take villager Jun 2015 #6

In my city, people drive around neighborhoods to pick up discarded stuff & sell it. Demit Jun 2015 #7

I got my pc desk that way. Person 840high Jun 2015 #80

Is this from the Onion? TheCowsCameHome Jun 2015 #8

I see it in my area. Yes. PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #10

I'd rather see someone make use of a useable item TheCowsCameHome Jun 2015 #24

Giving things away for free rather than to a place to sell them is "sanctimonious"? uppityperson Jun 2015 #12

The house of charity need not be one that sells stuff PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #20

If you want control over it, you need to keep it in your possession. Once it is no longer uppityperson Jun 2015 #23

I do not want the couch on the curb at all. PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #28

Do you think people feel morally superior by putting furniture out for free rather uppityperson Jun 2015 #31

I think it could play a part. Yes. n/t PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #40

Wow. Giving stuff for free vs making someone pay is because you feel morally superior. Wow. nt uppityperson Jun 2015 #47

If I have a table that a charity shop might sell for thirty or forty bucks, and I put it MADem Jun 2015 #81

In Honolulu, each neighborhood has a once a month bulk pick up day for anything too large msongs Jun 2015 #15

Wait... what? lumberjack_jeff Jun 2015 #16

Thank you PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #22

His point was people donate crap to charities. Wasn't your point that people should donate to uppityperson Jun 2015 #26

If it is good enough. PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #35

Freecycle is a good meeting point Person 2713 Jun 2015 #55

I agree. PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #57

I have gone on there so many times looking for something in particular only to see someone Person 2713 Jun 2015 #73

Poor people who are new to USA are not "online." Online costs money. MADem Jun 2015 #83

Your point about obsolete electronics is sound. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2015 #34

Those are the major items I am concerned with PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #37

If you're driving down the street and see a sign that says "Free grips" you should stop and get one. Nuclear Unicorn Jun 2015 #17

! uppityperson Jun 2015 #19

Ha ha! Le Taz Hot Jun 2015 #41

Ok PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #44

LOL! City Lights Jun 2015 #61

Charities around here want items in excellent condition Warpy Jun 2015 #18

Some of my husband's fondest memories are of him and his Dad DawgHouse Jun 2015 #21

That is a great story PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #43

My husband just reminded me that they "walked" around the neighborhood, they didn't drive. DawgHouse Jun 2015 #48

I'll get outraged about this later. tabasco Jun 2015 #27

I needed a distraction from my typical outrage PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #30

I know some people who used to live in New Jersey tabasco Jun 2015 #64

I'm happy that people put free stuff on the curb. Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #29

I have done similarly too. n/t PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #32

A lot of people who pick up that stuff are hoarders... luvspeas Jun 2015 #33

How could you POSSIBLY know what happens to the free stuff Le Taz Hot Jun 2015 #39

We have once a year pickup of large items too PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #42

If it's worth 'selling', then it's worth giving away. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2015 #45

I am all for giving stuff away if it can help others PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #49

Part of the reason is that the houses of charity are getting very fussy about what they want. Cleita Jun 2015 #46

"So people end up hoping someone can use it" PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #52

I don't myself. I do have a junk pile for stuff I can't donate, recycle, compost or put in the Cleita Jun 2015 #65

I do this once or twice a year myself. n/t PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #68

They're picky because they have to be. ForgoTheConsequence Jun 2015 #53

The old model was to employ people, like skid row people, maybe today they would be homeless, to Cleita Jun 2015 #59

For some places that was a viable model. ForgoTheConsequence Jun 2015 #66

resale places have to have stuff in mint condition... luvspeas Jun 2015 #56

I wasn't talking about that kind of stuff. We do have recycling for those things. Cleita Jun 2015 #62

have you been to a resale shop lately? luvspeas Jun 2015 #67

Maybe at an antique shop. ForgoTheConsequence Jun 2015 #69

Yes, I know they do that. They almost become vintage stores no different than the Cleita Jun 2015 #70

Where do you live where you witness this sort of problem? Snobblevitch Jun 2015 #50

If it wasn't worth something to someone, it wouldn't get taken. People like free stuff. Throd Jun 2015 #51

you should drop to your knees and thank the deity of your choice elehhhhna Jun 2015 #54

no because the problem is not the stuff... luvspeas Jun 2015 #58

I agree. This is certainly a first world problem. n/t PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #60

Not a zero sum game... some of those charities exploit the people who work for them... so, cut out JCMach1 Jun 2015 #63

I furnished my first apartment with free stuff from the street Gormy Cuss Jun 2015 #71

I did the same. My roomie and I lived close to Beverly Hills. Cleita Jun 2015 #72

I have gotten really nice furniture from curb-sides. djean111 Jun 2015 #74

You mean like goodwill that takes advantage of the mentally ill and does little actual charity? X_Digger Jun 2015 #76

We put the peptones pink JustAnotherGen Jun 2015 #77

Hey, if it keeps people from buying more new shit JEB Jun 2015 #78

Nope. LeftyMom Jun 2015 #82

Because too may charities are too damn picky. MicaelS Jun 2015 #84

My neighbor gave me a basket. For free. nt msanthrope Jun 2015 #85

I've put stuff on the curb; our town is small & 20 mi away from a donation store cyberswede Jun 2015 #86

Honestly, this is one of the odder posts I've seen lately Arugula Latte Jun 2015 #87