I Hate Bulk Trash Scavengers
Yesterday, while I was working out in the yard, I saw somewhere around 20 trucks drive down the block, some carrying trailers, all loaded down with various odds and ends they had picked up from the piles of discarded lawn chairs, old lumber, and lawn trimmings left on the curb in preparation for bulk trash day. One of those trucks, at some point, took a couple of potted plants in our yard that were nowhere near our trash pile. I’m ticked. The plants were fairly cheap, but the pots weren’t. Anyway, that’s not the point. It’s the principle.
That’s just the latest run-in with these neighborhood raccoons. Last bulk trash day, someone ripped open every trash bag on my curb looking for something, and left the contents of said bags strewn out in the street. Something like that happens every month. I’m one more incident away from sitting on my porch with an air rifle full of rock salt, fulfilling my destiny of turning into my grandfather. OK, rant over.
67 Comments to “I Hate Bulk Trash Scavengers”
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Time to move to a northern suburb where you are safe from that kind of stuff.
we can set stuff out for bulk trash and within minutes/hours, it is gone.
The highlight was when the city garbage employees actually spent 15 minutes putting a TV in the front of the garbage truck between the driver and the passenger before actually picking up our trash can as normal. Funny thing, it didn’t work.
I’m with you, Zac. One time, the people had the gall to actually pick through our trash while we were outside talking to the neighbors. Since then, to prevent them from digging through the trash and leaving it all over the yard, I’ll scoop the litter box (three cats) and dump the contents on top.
It works.
I’m ready for next month…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....400440569/
I would think the cops or code compliance folks would respond if you provided details on the scavengers, including vehicle descriptions and licence plate numbers. But since they can’t respond quickly to my online report of foot-tall weeds at a vacant house on my block, perhaps not.
Urinate in a plastic jug and let it sit in the sun for a few days. Apply said liquid to trash. It works for all kinds of varmits. Don’t get any on you.
Code compliance can’t do anything unless you catch them in the act…
I suggest setting a trap - the bait would be a nice little wooden table, positioned so you can see it from your window but still within your property line.
When the rope tug rings the bell, ka-blooey….
Eh-eh-eh silly wabbit
I actually applaude the Gleaners.One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and these people are on the front line of the Green Movement.
I’m sorry someone’s potted plants were taken, but the Gleaners were always a big help for me when I set unwanted items out on the curb. I was happy someone else saw a use for my “junk”.
What was the WWII slogan? ” Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do or Do Without!”
Do you really want this stuff going to the landfill just because you can’t repair or don’t want an item any longer?
Think about it.
I don’t care that they take it. You’re exactly right, PT. I’d rather someone else use what I won’t/can’t.
I care HOW they take it.
Puddin’, I don’t think anyone has a real problem with people taking bulk items like TVs and furniture - it’s when they, as Zac said, rip open bags of trash to look through them that it becomes a problem (since a good wind takes the contents of those bags all over the street), and when they take things that aren’t a part of the pile.
Shoot ‘em anyway. That’s the Dallas Code.
once, i opened the door and started walking to the curb with a used mattress….a car stopped in its tracks in the middle of the street, and asked if she could have it. so I loaded it up and away she went. very lucky. metal goes super quick also. as for those trash bags, looking for aluminum cans? as for potted plants, I stopped putting those out a few years ago…they seemed to walk away in about a week. ya gotta love east dallas.
Two residences ago, when we lived on Oram, my wife and I hauled an old couch to the curb, since our dog had, um, “marked it” one too many times. I went into the apartment to get the cushions–maybe a minute and a half round trip–and it was gone.
IF YOU STOP THEM, WHATEVER WILL I HAVE TO PURCHASE AT FIRST MONDAY NEXT MONTH?
Lowercase letters, mayhaps?
Zac..
Wow…what compassion. You want to kill dogs and jail their owners and you dislike people going through your garbage.
Could you be anymore of a ******* snob?
Have you looked at yourself lately? You look like a piece of trash yourself.
My god, climb down off your high horse Henrietta you been hanging in D world too long.
Calling people in need “racoons” and that you want to “shoot” them. You really are the scum of the earth and a ******* looser on top of that.
TWP: I don’t think Zac has a problem with those who take things from the curb. Instead, it was with the potted plants in the yard that were no where near his bulk trash pile. That violates the curb code of conduct.
Who said anything about killing dogs? Kind of out of left field.
As to looking like a piece of trash: I’m blushing.
TWP:
Loser: a person who is incompetent or unable to succeed; also : something doomed to fail or disappoint
looser: not rigidly fastened or securely attached
In conclusion, before calling someone a loser (unless, of course you meant to say Zac was not rigidly fastened), one may want to use spell check (not to mention grammar check, and perhaps noodle for a firmer grasp of punctuation), lest he or she become victim of the old “takes one to know one” adage.
This happened to me about a month ago. Except they had my roommates’ grill. And it was 11 p.m. And they were stealing it. Oh, wait, maybe that’s not the same thing.
They did get it all the way to the pavement on Alderson before I caught them. Not sure where they were going with it after that.
Cold blooded mop heads can’t blush, nor can they write. You must be a nightmare to live with.
Does anything besides booze make you happy?
Killing dogs is only out of left field if you don’t read your own writing…and who could blame you if you don’t.
If you are really so concerned about the less fortunate going through your garbage then why don’t you get off your fat lazy ass and haul it off in a large metal container.
Our neighbors are thrilled to see people make use of our discarded items. I think the word is recycle! Arrogance and pissiness is an ugly virtue.
TWP - you don’t do large metal containers for bulk pickup day.
You put it all out on the front curb. And, if you’d stop ranting for a minute about Zac’s hair, you’d realize he said he didn’t have a problem with people taking furniture and such, it was when they started ripping open bags of trash so it would scatter all over the street, which is littering.
Surely you care about littering, yes?
Bethany..
I don’t need spell check. That is your gig as the token groupie for these white boys.
You are the Pamela Des Barres of D Magazine.
I’ve never written a single syllable about killing dogs or jailing their owners. If you can prove otherwise, bring it.
Being ugly to others is an ugly virtue as well.
I’m going to need that on a t-shirt.
Ranch Up!!!
I think the title of your blog entry should have been: I hate poor people.
Or maybe: I hate Mexicans.
Little hard to do shaggy when you check out your archives and get this..
Error - Page Not Found
The page you are looking for no longer exists. Feel free to check out the archive links or use the search in the right panel to find the content you are looking for.
_______
As I recall it involves your lack of understanding of Pit Bulls. As with most things, if you don’t understand it or it seems to be out of your own reality, you would just like it gone.
I am sure Bethany can find it, defend it, rationalize it, and turn it around on anyone that dares to disagree with you.
However you want to slice or dice it, only a pretentious pig would write about the bit of dribble left behind as someone goes through your trash. Did it ever cross your arrogant mind how they might feel having to do that? Has it ever crossed your shaggy little head that with this economy, you too could be one hospital bill away from digging trough trash?
Have you ever heard of a little thing called Karma? Working at D Magazine does not immune you from it.
Here ya go, sugar britches:
http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?s=pit+bull
I especially enjoy the one from
August 8th, 2007 2:58pm, where Zac says he has a pit bull.
Puddin’ Tane, that’s what the Goodwill is for. =)
The man who ought to worry about Karma is the man who leaves trash on someone’s lawn (even if it is that person’s trash).
Or maybe the one who’s too dumb to figure out that it is not about taking the stuff or going through the trash …it is about stealing or leaving a mess.
Kindness TWP, you dunder-headed oaf, simple kindness - from whoever wants the trash - is all anyone is asking for or talking about.
Except you, who so prevails in not getting it that I’m sure you just had an axe that needed grinding.
Actually, you shouldn’t have bags of trash out there anyway. If it fits in a bag, put it in a bag and put it in your handy large rolling bucket.
Bulky trash is supposed to be just that — bulky.
If it is something smaller that you are wanting the recyclers/gleaners to pick up — well don’t put it in a bag.
Actually, bagged leaves go with the bulk items:
http://www.dallascityhall.com/.....efuse.html
TWP,
I agree it must be shame-inducing. People who drive around in trucks looking for trash. Just have. So well developed. A sense.
Of shame.
As for pit bulls, kill’em on site, I say. Once, I did know one with good owners, and I liked that dog well enough. The pit bull in question — Paloma was her name-O; an improbably elegant monicker for this square-jawed juggernaut of a beast — eventually devoured two neighboring cats and, immune to all chastening, seemed to laugh at her spree.
Kill’em dead.
The piece you’re thinking of was written by someone else–not me, owner of a dearly departed pit bull mix, Veronica, the best dog I’ve ever known.
I can see how one would confuse Eric Celeste for Zac Crain. I mean, both their last names begin with “C.” Both are white guys. Both have facial hair. But there is that whole shaggy mop vs. shaved head thing. I’m sure it’s just a wig. It harkens back to the whole KISS is Van Halen days of adolescence.
I must say that those were my plants and I kinda had a feeling that someone would take them. They were awesome plants and really pretty containers. My bad for leaving them out. I only hope that whoever took them knows that one is a Banana Agave and one is a Red Yucca. Neither needs to be watered–ever. They survive with just average rainfall. I planted them with very good drainage. I hope that whoever it is, enjoys them as much as I have. I also hope they keep them organic. I had just fertilized with liquid seaweed so they should be good to go.
Kill’em on “sight.” Or on “site,” if you prefer; no need to farm that kind of thing out to vendors, I suppose.
Not when I got me an itchy trigger finger and a deep-seated contempt for pit bulls.
I don’t think it’s the breed - I think it’s the owner. After all, even a gerbil, left to its own devices, can wreck havoc. Smaller havoc, yes, but havoc just the same.
The man who ought to worry about Karma is the man who leaves trash on someone’s lawn (even if it is that person’s trash).
——
Now that is ******* brilliant ROJ!
Nuff said!
Bethany…you have a lot of work ahead of you girl when you pal W moves back to town, but I am sure you will find a way to justify his actions.
What’s the adage about assuming things?
Please don’t put out bagged leaves, grass clippings or old plants. Compost them or give them to a neighbor that composts. Just a suggestion. Sticks are ok to put out…can’t compost them. OR, you could put the leaves over your lawn and mulch them in. You’ll add lots of nutrients to your lawn, improving the microbial activity. Again, just a suggestion.
Bethany, your gerbil comment might have hit TWP too close to hole, I mean home.
Nuff said = I stand corrected. Zac never made such a statement and I hereby retract it.
Right?
Hey Daniel
Jeff Foxworthy called and wants his schtick back.
The incredible aspect of this blog and the supporters of “hate the poor” is that you guys prove my very point in your own slouchy verbiage. Every thought Bethany has is based on the bloggers on this site.
Kind of sad. Kind of pathetic. Very condescending. Yet sort of amusing in a
Anna Nicole sort of way.
It’s cute.
Actually, TWP, I’ve disagreed at various times with various people on this blog.
But in this case, I just thought you were being unfair and ridiculous, not to mention inaccurate.
Speaking for myself only, I don’t mind dissenting views - as long as there’s some factual basis. You just bring vitriol to the table, and very little - if anything - else. This is boring.
When asked to provide proof of your assertion, and then shown that you were wrong, your first thought was to peg me as a Bush supporter, which is apropos of absolutely nothing at all.
You guys are so easy to take the piss out of.
Hey Zac…you and your boy toy owe me big time for making you the celebrity of the day. Now go drink yourselves silly at the Monk before heading home to your wives.
Bethany, take a deep breath. You have been Punked, you and your eleven thousand blogs.
Have a good day and don’t forget to vote for Bob Barr for President!
Silly Wabbits! You shouldn’t make your goats so available.
Here try this, TWP.
I was incorrect. Zac never made the statements that I attributed to him.
Pick up your ass on the way out. It was just handed to you.
1Arts: Why should I burn more gas and take more time out of my day when Gleaners come by unprompted?
Bethany: ASSumimg. Always cap the first three letters to emphasize the true meaning of the word.
Punk’d. And riiiiiiiiiight.
TWP: I know it’s really easy to go off on the Burn Crew ’cause God knows they set themselves up (alot), but I may suggest you go take a Midol and calm down.
You should never take The Burn so seriously.
Seriously.
TWP,
You are an embarrassment to all liberals. Please shut your mouth the next time you feel that you have something to contribute. Please.
I think TWP is a sock puppet for “I HATE PEOPLE.” Same confused welter of rage.
Sounds to me like TWP knows just a little **too much** about Zac. I mean, looks, hangouts, etc……
I wouldn’t be surprised if his (TWP’s) house is proudly displaying two recently acquired potted plants and some sort of shrine to the author of this post.
Zac, watch your back. You just might have some sort of stalker.
good stuff, all, keep pissing on each other, i love it
and just go buy yorself a 55-gallon drum and start burning all your trash and i do mean all of it styrofoam, plastic and all…eff global warming
OK, after reading the posts by TWP I understand that he enjoys digging through garbage, loves pit bulls, has a hard time holding down a job in this tough economy and he loves Anna Nicole Smith.
I did some research and found his photo:
http://www.ratemymullet.com/show.php?id=56
since I do not have free pickup ( I have to haul and pay) I need to give out my address for some help with my excess trash.
*******NEWS ALERT********
Just saw TWP dumpster diving near Hall and McKinney. Could have sworn I saw a half-eaten chicken salad sandwich hanging from his mouth as he peaked out over the side of the dumpster behind Cafe Express.
When I put bulk trash out, I just assume I’m chumming for bums.
Chumming for Bums would be an awesome band name.
I moved to Dallas in 1993, from Los Angeles. There, scavenging was illegal — but not enforced. But - get this - bulk trash pickup was only once a YEAR there, not monthly.
Here, I asked the DPD if scavenging was legal, after getting complaints from our neighbors. Turns out there’s no law against it.
Move to the ‘burbs. Richardson has bulk trash pickup once a week! And they mulch your limbs, leaves, etc. for city use if you specify that what you are leaving out is compostable.
We have our fair share of scavengers (which, by the way, should not be considered a pejorative label - it’s cool to scavenge!). I like to think of them as unwittingly being on the front lines of the green movement.
Zac Crain is nice. Don’t be mean to him. You want to go after someone? Go after Nancy. She’s SO controversial.
About the city garbage employees who put the TV in the front of the garbage truck … Televisions and other electronics, sometimes called e-waste, have lead, mercury, and toxic flame retardants. One bump and that mercury tube could have shattered on the street leading to a toxic spill on your street.
Next time, consider recycling it.
You should never have leaves or yard trimmings in a plastic bag. For goodness sake, put them in the lawn bags. They are cheap - you can get them at Home Depot or a fire dept. As for bulk waste, if it is something that could be re-used, take it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. You can write it off on your taxes.
I am so sick of spoiled people not donating perfectly usable items.
I agree that it is not an invitation to steal things off your lawn, but those scavengers are doing a public service for those too lazy to donate or recycle.
As for the person who put a TV out for bulky trash…why would you do such a thing when they can be recycled???
Move to a northern suburb? I’ll take the bulk trash ‘racoons’ over the shear boredom of the ‘northern’ suburbs!
I understand that people accidentally took your plants on bulk trash day, which is not cool…couldn’t the trash guys have made the same mistake since leaves and such are picked up too? Is it possible that a dog tore through the bags as they love to do?
I found out through a friend that a neighborhood in Austin (I live near Austin) was having bulk trash day. We went to see if we could find a few things that we could use. My son and daughter (both honor roll students) needed some type of desk. We found one desk that was new, but had one broken screw - an easy fix. We also found a wheelbarrel that needed a little repair, and a basketball hoop. We could not afford these things otherwise. We were so thankful to find these items. I guess Austin is more “green-friendly”. People were in their yards yelling as we drove by “it’s free! Take it!” We thanked the lady with the basketball hoop and she said “you’re very welcome!” We didn’t dig through anything and I would never open a bag. There were many yards that have decorative plants and benches that I could clearly tell were not out for pick up. No one put bulk pick up next to decorations/plants either.
We’ve also put things out by the curb - I usually tape a piece of paper on the item and write “free” so someone will take it and not feel bad or wonder if they can. It puts a smile on my face and I feel good when I see it’s gone…knowing that someone came by and wanted/needed it. And the item didn’t go into the dump.
I think it’s harsh to call people “scavengers” or raccoons. We aren’t anything like that. That is the 1st time we’d done that though - I guess the people with trailers that do it all the time sell the goods at flea markets or such. Even so, they are recycling, and maybe it affords them the ability to pay for their prescriptions or something. You never know. I have nothing against people that have been able to make a nice living for themselves and their families, but there are people out there that live differently than you do. The littlest things can be a huge struggle. It may be nothing for you to throw out a 12 month old stove because you wanted a new one, while a family like mine would feel completely blessed/appreciative to have such a nice item to use. The same with furniture, toys, books, etc.