Darryl and I live in an established desirable neighbourhood. The
regulars checking our own pathetic collection, since we don't buy pop,
beer or bagged juice, are most often business men who cash in on pick up
days, be it on bike or cars that far out-value our own. One regular is a
local resident who supplements his disability pension. Cyclists with 3
or 4 huge packed trash bags headed for recycling is quite common in
Victoria, but the trend was hitting S.E. Ontario before we left in 2002.
Just blocks away, we have the land of fabulous stately old mansions with
grounds worthy of provincial park designation. One day, at the end of a
driveway with a big sign reading "FREE"--a Victoria tradition, despite
local by-laws--was a heap of curious boxes full of what were likely
selectively discarded wedding gifts. One box was a collection of decent
crystal and silver vases, a couple of which were 925. The area trash may
be far better than their garage sale items, sadly ridden with nouveau
riche bric-a-brac. (Most good sale items go to auction.)
I have a hard time driving past a FREE sign, or a garage sale sign, much
to Darryl's mortification. I've found countless valuable items, mostly
thanks to the habits of my older brother who once lived in The Village
of New York, where furnishing one's apartment with discarded tired
elegance was part of survival. Though he's been at a well-paid job for
decades, his house and garage are packed with decades worth of enviable
free items. Now "Pickers" shows are featuring yesterday's crazy
collectors as today's well-to-do antique dealers.
I think trash picking has grown more acceptable with the movement of
recycling, fortunately for many--once it becomes the only thing between
them and starvation. But it's become much like the once wonderful
charity stores that the Sally Anns and Value Villages were: now big
business for those with enough backing. So, few who are needy will be
able to cart away enough to make it viable.
*Natalia*
On 19/07/2012 7:58 AM, D & N wrote:
This has been occurring in our area for the past 4 years. Pickers
range from those in vehicles to bicyclers to walkers. If there was
money paid for newspapers they would be gone too. Even a dollar can
buy a bit of food for someone on the street and a pick-up truck box
full can buy almost a week of meals - if that is their bent.
D.
On 19/07/2012 6:51 AM, Arthur Cordell wrote:
No, I think you are seeing something. Something I notice in my area
as well. My guess is those items on which a deposit is paid (beer
cans, etc.) are valued. As is metal of all kind. We put out an old
barbecue at the curb on garbage day and within minutes a pickup truck
pulled up and whoosh, gone was the barbecue.
arthur
*From:*[email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Ed Weick
*Sent:* Thursday, July 19, 2012 9:33 AM
*To:* 'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION'
*Subject:* [Futurework] Am I missing something?
I live in a nice quiet urban neighborhood. Today is the day that the
city picks our garbage up. Recently, a few people have started
coming by to sort through our recycling bins. Some are on bikes,
some pull wagons and some just walk carrying bags. They don't look
as though they're from our neighborhood. Today, the last person to
come by was an elderly woman who went through the already picked-over
bins very carefully.
If these people find anything of value, they don't get very much for
it -- a few cents for wine or beer bottles etc. But what they are
doing suggests a sense of desperation. It would seem that whatever
little they get is very important to them.
Ed
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