Would you call the police if someone was going through your recycling bin?

[lighthouse68]

There were two kids going through every single bin on my street. I called to see if that was ok that they did this. I didn't want them to get hurt. The police station said that no one should be going through them except the property owner and the recycling company. It is considered private property.

What are your thoughts.

[lvstephanie]

On the one hand, I agree with garbage and recycling being private property... "Dumpster diving" is one of the better known ways of retrieving sensitive information that can be used for identity theft. On the other hand, depending on the age of the kids, they probably aren't out to steal anyone's identity (esp. in the recycle bin) but are rather being enterprising by grabbing aluminum out of the bins and selling it for a little extra cash (it still is getting recycled, and if the property owner had wanted that cash, they wouldn't have thrown it in the recycle bin in the first place). Or perhaps they have a school project and were trying to find a bunch of empty milk jugs or 2 liter bottles. As long as they weren't hurting anyone or making a mess on the street, I wouldn't worry about it.

I know when I was young and used to live in NY where there was a 5-cent refund on pop / beer cans and bottles, I used to carry along with me some garbage bags whenever the family would go someplace where there might be a lot of empties lying around. For example, I'd go through the garbage bins lining the street of a town when they were celebrating their Maple Festival, and I could end up making and extra $5 for my endeavors. Technically, I was probably breaking some law by doing that, but realistically, I was helping the recycling effort and was getting paid as well.

[bschumacher]

No. There are  many needy people in my city (L.A.) who are struggling to survive. I put my bottles and cans on the curb to spare these people the indignity of rooting  around in the bin.

[yaayme]

They probably were looking for can's to deposit for money.

[muush88]

I always put cans and bottles in separate bag  near the other trash so they wont go thru and rip everything up and make a mess  sucks when they just rip open bags searching 

[dmalsbury]

no, I would not.

[AmyTrivitt]

Hmm I did not know it was illegal in anyway. When the trash company we go through, "had huge pickup day". Items such as couchs, beds, ect. things that you cannot put at your curb normaly. We had a couple of people stop and dig through our trashed belongings and our trash can. My husband said that it was legal and that they must need these items. And it made somewhat sense to me. Would you be proud of going to peoples trash to get things, I wouldn't. But I also have never been in any kind of situation like that.
My advice is if your worried about someone stealing information from you, which is serious, I bealive Wal-mart has them for under $20.00 a paper shredder. That way you know for sure that your personal information is gone. Peace of mind!!
But no I would not call the cops.

[Falconer02]

There were two kids going through every single bin on my street. I called to see if that was ok that they did this. I didn't want them to get hurt. The police station said that no one should be going through them except the property owner and the recycling company. It is considered private property.

If I were you, I'd approach them kindly and ask what's up. If they're just your typical kids looking for any money they can scrounge, I'd let them continue but I'd tell them to be careful-- explain what the law says and why. Tell them to just be careful. They'll look at you as a friend then.

[aliakaraki97]

NO NOT REALLY!!!!

[JERMANIA]

no i would just let the person know not to be in my bin

[ed9173]

lol if they are kids then no. once i saw some mexican men jump out of a van and take broken tennis rackets from my neighbors trash. it was weird.

[JessieKateRose]

It depends on the situation. In my town there is a man known as the can man who goes around and collects everyone's tin cans out of their recycle bins and then takes them to one of those places where they'll give you money for them. He was in a car crash and now he's not all there, and that's pretty much just how he spends his time because he doesn't have anything better to do.

[ktheodos]

I think it depends on the age/demeanor of who it is, how often it happens, and whether they're really rummaging/leaving a mess, or just being casual about it...

[ancmetro]

      Posted:  'Private property. No trespassing!'

[kenrachel1993]

i think depend on the age of someone doing it and maybe you could ask them wat it is they are lookin g for but usually no harm no foul