Scavenging on the Increase?

My neighbor and I have noticed what may be a sign of the current hard times, namely frequent visits to our block by scavengers picking through trash and recyclables.

One person arrives often on a bicycle with a small trailer attached. He goes through the recycling bins looking for cans and will also strip copper from cast-off appliances, computers and television sets. He told me recently that he goes all over Plainfield, as well as to neighboring municipalities, in search of scrap. Despite new rules about disposal of electronics, people still set out old TVs and such and one often sees them smashed as scavengers seek out valuable wires and other metal components. After I spoke to our scavenger, we no longer see the debris strewn about, but we still have the carcasses of these appliances sitting around. Sometimes residents of our six-family stuff them in the trash bin, which is supposed to be for household waste.

Out of the six households, only a couple in our building adhere to all the solid waste and recycling regulations. My neighbor and I are the longest-term residents and we generally end up cleaning up after the others.

There is also a couple that arrives in a small blue pickup truck to probe the bins. It is unclear to me what they hope to find in there. I have not tried to interview them. They move bags of trash to see what is underneath - not very sanitary. A woman who sometimes does the same alone puts her finds in a shopping cart. She very energetically plows through the garbage and quickly moves on, while the couple take their time.

Over the years, especially when curbside bulk waste pickups were done, we used to see people going through the debris. Back when aluminum was more valuable, I used to chase folks away from the recycling cans when I lived on Putnam Avenue, because once materials are set out, they technically belong to the official municipal collector. We have also seen scavengers take aluminum rain pipes right off buildings, and we have all heard of copper being stripped from vacant homes and buildings for scrap. The big blue building at Park & Seventh has had metal stripped out of it.

Scavenging, or garbage picking, is well-known in poorer nations. I found this article about how people try to organize it in various locales. Dumpster diving for fun and profit also became an activity in the U.S., both for squatters living off society's castoffs and for hackers seeking corporate information. Authorities have warned that people engaged in identity theft can sift trash for bills and other paperwork with useful account numbers.

In the spectrum of treasure to trash, useful but no longer wanted items can be donated to groups such as the Visiting Nurse Association, which holds massive rummage sales to raise funds, or more simply can be set out on the curb or front lawn for takers. I have put household items including an old typewriter, a deacon's bench, a printer and other items labeled "Free" and they are often gone within minutes.

Garbage picking still has a stigma compared to browsing curbside household castoffs. It's kind of sad to see someone rifling through bags of refuse in hopes of garnering something worth a few pennies or dollars. Are you seeing scavengers in your neighborhood? If so, how do you feel about it?

--Bernice