The men in my dumpster

**Lora88** · 11-10-2009, 07:23 AM

As I have written before I obtained a container to hold garbage from my basement purge I am hoping to move so cleanout was essential I live in a large development and I was concerned people would illegally put trash in my dumpster You have to pay extra over 2000 pounds. I neednt have worried however as my container gets lighter each day. Just yesterday I looked out my window and there was a man standing inside the container He had removed the old washer dryer and hot water heater and loaded them into his old pickup. I went out front and he told me that he had lost his job about a year ago and had been unable to find another He took up scrapping and was averaging about 150.00 a day He asked if he could have the stuff and I said I was happy to help There are people rummaging thru the dumpster everyday I only threw out what I considered junk the rest I donated but I thought what a sad commentry on the so called recession I gues its far from over in New Jersey

**Daisygirl** · 11-10-2009, 07:41 AM

I have to say - the name of this caught my eye! I was expectig to hear you had a man sleeping in your dumpster.

I think you are right, it does say a lot about the recession but it also to me shows a lot about the ingenuity of people who are not just going to roll over and give up.

Good for him. He couldn't find a job so he made one up! I love that. Your story brightened my morning.

**nuisance26** · 11-10-2009, 08:01 AM

~Well, I grew up in rural Jersey and scrapping was always around. Guys in their beat up old trucks would often stop and ask my dad(a mechanic and master tinkerer) if he wanted his junk hauled off. My dad sometimes obliged but often said no since he was taking the items to the center himself.
You can make great money at it as your diver has discovered.~

**NikoSan999** · 11-10-2009, 08:18 AM

QUOTE " I only threw out what I considered junk the rest I donated but I thought what a sad commentry on the so called recession I gues its far from over in New Jersey."

The recession is far from over and I'm not sure that it has even hit bottom yet. The news only reports what it wants to report and that includes CNN, MNBC, CSPAN and all the others. If it reported the truth these politicians wouldn't get reelected among other reasons. New layoffs are still hitting over 500,000 each time and they say this is good? States are going broke...geesh, it dosen't take a brain surgeon to see it isn't any better. You just have to piece together between the lies.

**Sundae** · 11-10-2009, 08:21 AM

I have a dryer, and 2 refrigeraters in my basement I wish someone would haul them away for me lol.

You can even put a sign up welcoming people to take what they want, you might get rid of more that way!

**Mummy2** · 11-10-2009, 08:50 AM

It is a sad time right now, I work in a slightly undesirable area ( have 2 dogs at work with me now) next to a "Gentlemans Club" not the high quality kind either. I was out walking the dogs yesterday and I noticed there were alot more "Gentlemen" sitting outside and along the low wall next to my building. A few hours later they were still there. I know they were not waitng for a turn they just had nothing to do and nowhere to really go. By the end of my work day the men had been just sitting there for 8 hours!

I also notice at certain areas of the island there are larger pockets of men/ illegal immigrants waiting to be picked up for day labour. Alot of bodies milliing about and waiting for work.....

Its quite alarming to me. Last year this time I hardly saw any men during the day just milling about with nothing to do.

**wjcalderon** · 11-10-2009, 08:59 AM

There's an older man in our small town that goes around town early in the morning every garbage day, looking for "treasures."
I don't think he opens garbage cans or bags, but if you put something out beside the garbage, he will probably take it.
I saw him stop in front of my house and pick up an old sponge mop I have left out there.

**jlaporte** · 11-10-2009, 09:06 AM

Yes it is sad now a days. But pan handeling is very questionable. Here in FL i see alot more woman now doing it. My fav was the woman outside the bussiness distric with a sign that said."u can go shopping and buy stuff why cant u give me at least a dollar!"
Oh and it gets worst from there. Yes I know times are hard for us all but leing is opathetic. So many ppl around here forage threw trash in ther junkie clothes make over 150.00 in scrap metal then go home shower put on there suits and go to there office jobs.So whats wrong with that? Aparently it all depends on who ur runner up is. PPl fight over street corners. More woman are saying they r preggers and make up from 500 a day! In FL there are more organizations then I ever thought of that give happily to all the so called homeless. Most have it made. I hurt for money for my family as well but yet we are turned away from any assistance cuz we do not qualify. The whole thing is lopsided.I can see making ends meet and doing what 1 must to survive but well...ok off my rant dont wanna hijack the page. I just kno first hand that most ppl who do the foraging and the pan handeling(yes 1st hand) they are doing it for drugs and some could care less about working cuz they like there life and just need ciggy and beer money.(uncle hires many ppl for odd jobs as he is a handy man and they tell me 1st hand whats going on especially under the over passes by st vincents. Its all crocked)

**nodmicks** · 11-10-2009, 09:22 AM

Wow! That is all very sad!

**Nishu** · 11-10-2009, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Sundae

I have a dryer, and 2 refrigeraters in my basement I wish someone would haul them away for me lol.

You can even put a sign up welcoming people to take what they want, you might get rid of more that way!

You should post it on craigslist or look on craiglist for junk removal. I bet you can find someone to take it away for you.

My stepdad has scrapped for years and it has nothing to do with the recession in his case. Actually as the price of metal went down recently he even slowed down a bit. It's gone back up though recently so that's a good sign.

I've done it with him a few times and I have to admit it's really fun.

ops:

I picked up a pressure cooker that way that's in excellent shape. It's where my mom got the sewing machine that I use now. Sometimes they actually take what they pick up and then pretty it up and list it on craigslist. They've found the craziest things doing it and they make quite a bit of money.

**Nishu** · 11-10-2009, 09:51 AM

And, 150 a day 5 days a week is 39000 a year. I don't know what the tax laws are on things like that, but I doubt he's claiming it. It's actually not a bad living.

So he's found a new job... I guess I just don't really see that as being sad. Good for him for being industrious.

**Denvergirlie** · 11-10-2009, 10:13 AM

We scrap and dumpster dive all the time..... it's a lot of fun, like mondern day teasure hunting. I'll admit that since the economy has taken a hit, we actually do less of it now than we used to do, plus as a PP mentioned the price of metals is way down.

**savvy_sniper** · 11-10-2009, 10:21 AM

In my mom's neighborhood and in mine also, there are guys that drive around in pickup trucks with trailers on heavy trash day. There are now MANY more of them! Heck, they are even asking on my area freecycle groups if anyone has any scrap metal that needs to be taken away.

In these hard economic times, people are doing whatever it takes to get by.

**ml2620** · 11-10-2009, 10:23 AM

I'm sorry, but why is this sad? It is sad the man is in dire straits, but it is not at all sad that he managed to find something useful and salvagable in the trash! Otherwise, it would go to waste in a landfill probably.

The reverse side of this is the green movement, recycling and upcycling. I'm not ashamed to admit I've pulled furniture and things like that out of garbage piles.

I'm sorry the man is having rough times - but I am GLAD he's able to recycle those materials and get use out of it.

**frugalwarrior** · 11-10-2009, 10:26 AM

Around here we have a couple of guys that come every week. I appreciate them. It cost $40. to enter the dump w/ this stuff. They take it for free and make a bit. It's a beautiful thing. If I will have more next week I tell them. I gave them 3 dehumidifiers,an iron bbq,poles left under my deck by the previous owners,an old fire pit,and tons of other stuff. I wish they would take computers.
People also leave good stuff on top of their garbage here. I have gotten good hangers,new batteries,pencils,pens,baby equip.,too much to remember.
Just another form of recycling. IMHO.

$52,000-13,000 (25% taxation)= $39,000 Less the cost of medical and vehicle maintainence. That's above poverty level for 1 person. Still look sad. He works under the table,people give him stuff,he qualifies for food stamps,medical assistance. He may even be getting unemployment. People make due.