They put out this shelf and I want it, but I don’t want to seem strange? It would make a nice plant shelf, but it’s not something I can scurry away with, so people would see me while I carried it. Is that a bad thing to do?
EDIT: Never mind. Someone beat me to it. 😭
Homie. I wish you better luck in future recycling adventures. I think you might meet cool like minded people along the way.
This is totally kosher where I am and I’ve done it before, but if I think I’ll be observed I’ll ask my neighbor. They’ve always responded with some variation of “oh of course, I consider it trash” and sometimes explain reasons they’re getting rid of it that dissuaded me from taking it that weren’t immediately obvious.
And if you don’t know who owns it, leaving a note to ask is simple.
I’ve been the one to leave stuff out that I didn’t have space for anymore, with a note on that it’s free to take
One man’s garbage is another man person’s good un-garbage.
this is quite literally how I get all of my furniture, extending the lifespan of consumer goods is a good thing.
now you know for next time!
There’s a well established tradition of hand-me-down furniture being put out in alleys in East Vancouver. When you move and have no furniture, you can just tour the alleys and come away with a coffee table and a sofa or a couple of chairs. Did it a few times. You gotta know how to check for bed bugs though.
It’s only weird if the person who threw it away makes it weird by getting upset and calling the cops, which is their legal right for some damn reason.
I don’t mind people picking through my trash; just as long as they don’t make a mess throwing garbage out of the can and leaving it all over the place.
If you’re sure they don’t want it, take it.
If you aren’t sure, ask, if if they are there, and if they aren’t there, take it and ask later if they wanted it (return it if they did).
There’s no shame in re-using good or even repairable stuff: indeed, be proud.
The free pile is always available.
My neighborhood has bulk trash pickup monthly. Most of the bulk trash gets put out the week prior to pickup day. The majority of this trash doesn’t make it to the dump! People with trailers come by and pick up anything remotely usable. I like to think they are reusing/upcycling this stuff but I really don’t know. I see this as a huge win because it keeps stuff out of the dump but it does feel very dystopian to see a junk economy like something from Fallout.
I’m in the USA btw. Others have pointed out that some countries have different laws regarding ownership of trash. Don’t get in trouble with law enforcement, get to know your neighbors better! It’s not trash if they give it to you.
Just go and ask
Why is that weird? I put things out hoping someone will grab it, so i don’t have to risk the city not taking it.
Lmao, not at all. Check it for bugs, but trash is fair game. I live in a college town and there is good furniture out every semester if you like the look of it.
It’s technically illegal, but if cops aren’t pursuing stolen cars, they damn sure won’t care about trash bring stolen.
And, based on your edit, I’m not the only person who agrees.
I actually love it when people take things I put by the curb. I would much rather someone get use out of it than have it end up in a landfill.
I got a decent table saw this way. I don’t mind picking up something that someone else doesn’t want and I might one day use.
Why don’t you just go ask them?
That’s how I got my dining table in my old apartment.
