We got a ticket this morning from the sanitation department due to a mess made by the people who dig through our recycling for cans and bottles. Turns out they started digging in the garbage as well and left garbage strewn all over the sidewalk. I don't care if people take things out of the recycling--I actually leave the bag loosely tied so they can get at it easier and don't have to rip it. But the collectors have been getting more aggressive lately and have been making a huge mess--I've tried putting the recycling out right before the garbage truck comes but I have to leave for work at 6:30 am, which gives them enough time to dump the bags out and take what they want. Does anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it?
Last edited by erikka on Tue Sep 19, 06 3:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
brooklynpotter ceramme ceramma danna
Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 3996 Location: near the square that's a circle
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:00 am EST
i saw a program on TV--20/20?--where two can people, a couple in LA, sent their kids to college on the $$ they made from cans.
i know you were asking for solutions to keep them from making a huge mess out of everything, and i wish i knew some because they seem to do the same thing here. and they steal our trashbags.
but does anyone else feel like we're enabling the can people to continue being can people? not trying to turn this into a giant debate, trust me, just curious about how other people feel about the can people. _________________ what would you tell me, if i could hear you speaking?--t.r.
Flexichick Windsor Terrorist
Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 9623
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:03 am EST
I don't mind when they take my cans, and I don't think we're contributing to them being "can people". There are a lot less honest ways to get money and if I'm not interested in turning in my bottles for the deposit and somebody else is....well, more power to them.
I do get pissed when they make a mess, and I'd me furious if I got a ticket for it.
I also leave the top fairly loose in hopes of encouraging them to open the bag and close it again without ripping it, but that doesn't always happen.
Sometimes when I see them coming I tell them "here....feel free, but please close the bag and leave it in the same spot when finished". I'm hoping that they think if I know them and they know me that next time if I'm not around they'll remember to do the right thing.
erikka Bruce Ratner's Love Child
Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 754
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:10 am EST
Flexichick wrote:
I don't mind when they take my cans, and I don't think we're contributing to them being "can people". There are a lot less honest ways to get money and if I'm not interested in turning in my bottles for the deposit and somebody else is....well, more power to them.
I don't mind, either. I'd rather they take cans than have to make money thru shadier means. If you're willing to go through the work of digging and schlepping all those cans/bottles, then you deserve a buck or two. It seems like such hard work for so little cash. But I do feel like I have been too accomodating to them--this is the second ticket we've gotten because of collectors leaving a mess. My sympathy is starting to wear thin.
I haven't actually caught anyone in the act otherwise I'd talk to them, and I suspect the people collecting are not English speakers (the people I've seen around the neighborhood have been little old Asian ladies), so leaving a note probably won't work.
stacey Beyond Karma
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 3105 Location: Underhill Ave.
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:11 am EST
erikka wrote:
I got a ticket this morning from the sanitation department due to a mess made by the people who dig through our recycling for cans and bottles. Turns out they started digging in the garbage as well and left garbage strewn all over the sidewalk. I don't care if people take things out of the recycling--I actually leave the bag loosely tied so they can get at it easier and don't have to rip it. But the collectors have been getting more aggressive lately and have been making a huge mess--I've tried putting the recycling out right before the garbage truck comes but I have to leave for work at 6:30 am, which gives them enough time to dump the bags out and take what they want. Does anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it?
Erikka - I have started putting out two bags of recycling using clear bags (instead of blue). I put cans in one bag and the rest of my recycling in the other. It seems that with the clear bags they can easily tell that there are no cans in the second bag, and they just take the can with the bags and leave the other bag alone.
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:13 am EST
brooklynpotter wrote:
but does anyone else feel like we're enabling the can people to continue being can people? not trying to turn this into a giant debate, trust me, just curious about how other people feel about the can people.
Being considerate of others is part of being a person. They should try not to make any more of a mess than necessary - which should be none at all, really.
pitu Fake Buddhist
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 6489 Location: Utopian Park Slope
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:22 am EST
I presort.
I leave an open shopping bag hanging on the side of the fence, with deposit bottles. I kinda like getting them out of the house quicker, so I usually drop them on my way out to walk the dog at night or in the am.
The only resulting irritation I have is when someone uses the bag as a general trash...so I started hanging it off the street more, so someone has to come in the gate to use it.
It's surprisingly *not* a pain in the ass.
I didn't like the noise or my bag getting ripped open. There's quite a few elderly that I see collecting, and I'd like to make it easy for them. It's a hard life, and I think an honest way to make a buck.
erikka Bruce Ratner's Love Child
Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 754
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:51 am EST
pitu wrote:
I presort.
I leave an open shopping bag hanging on the side of the fence, with deposit bottles. I kinda like getting them out of the house quicker, so I usually drop them on my way out to walk the dog at night or in the am.
I'm not sure what they're looking for (sorry, my knowledge of recycling in the area is limited to knowing that it goes out on Monday and Thursday). Obvs cans, glass bottles as well? Are plastic bottles worthless? I might just presort like you suggested--that seems easy enough. But if I catch someone putting holes in the garbage bags, looking for god only knows what, I am going to adminster a six a.m. beatdown.
pitu Fake Buddhist
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 6489 Location: Utopian Park Slope
Tue Sep 19, 06 11:09 am EST
erikka wrote:
pitu wrote:
I presort.
I leave an open shopping bag hanging on the side of the fence, with deposit bottles. I kinda like getting them out of the house quicker, so I usually drop them on my way out to walk the dog at night or in the am.
I'm not sure what they're looking for (sorry, my knowledge of recycling in the area is limited to knowing that it goes out on Monday and Thursday). Obvs cans, glass bottles as well? Are plastic bottles worthless? I might just presort like you suggested--that seems easy enough. But if I catch someone putting holes in the garbage bags, looking for god only knows what, I am going to adminster a six a.m. beatdown.
only things with a 5 cent deposit as far as I know
carbonated anything (soda, beer), and they're labeled
I haven't seen people digging for scrap metal/glass/plastic in this country
and not everyone picks up the large heavy fancy obscure beer bottles. Maybe the recycling center doesn't want them, dunno. Some canners just take cans and plastic bottles - glass is heavy.
The elderly Asian couple on my block takes everything.
Rose Ninja
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 911 Location: South Slope
Tue Sep 19, 06 12:07 pm EST
I haven't had anyone rip into my trash. I put my recycling stuff loose in the big recycling trashcan -- anyone who is interested can easily see what is in there -- mostly empty dog food cans since we rarely drink soda or beer.
I do see ripped-into garbage strewn around on 7th Ave. -- I doubt it is the "professional" (for lack of a better word) "can people" doing this since most of them are actually fairly particular about what they take. More likely it is people scavenging for anything of value, or just vandals -- maybe those horrid Park Slope teenagers. It could even be animals.
My dog can somehow rip into a garbage bag and extract a chicken bone without breaking stride (yes, I discourage this).
kosherdave The Kosherist
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 988
Tue Sep 19, 06 12:24 pm EST
Flexichick wrote:
I don't mind when they take my cans....
hahaha, ok sorry.
Carnivore Brooklyn Snark
Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 13566 Location: St Johns Pl and Underhill
Tue Sep 19, 06 12:27 pm EST
kosherdave wrote:
Flexichick wrote:
I don't mind when they take my cans....
hahaha, ok sorry.
It's only a matter of time before every discussion on this board turns to Flexichick's cans...
Flexichick Windsor Terrorist
Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 9623
Tue Sep 19, 06 2:00 pm EST
Carnivore wrote:
kosherdave wrote:
Flexichick wrote:
I don't mind when they take my cans....
hahaha, ok sorry.
It's only a matter of time before every discussion on this board turns to Flexichick's cans...
Hey, now! I go out for a few hours and I'm a hot topic again. I'm innocent (this time)!
blackoyster Regular
Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Park Slope
Tue Sep 19, 06 2:05 pm EST
There are an older Asian couple who live across 5th Ave from me and they are pros for sure. My only complaint is that EVERY MORNING at about a quarter to 7 they sort the bottles and cans they have picked up right on the curb. The din from the bottles clinking is a nightmare. It's like someone is cleaning up a frat party every day!
I presort.
I leave an open shopping bag hanging on the side of the fence, with deposit bottles. I kinda like getting them out of the house quicker, so I usually drop them on my way out to walk the dog at night or in the am.
i do the exact same thing. the few extra minutes i spend on recycling day sorting cans and bottles from other recyclables saves me the headache and bad mood of cleaning up after someone tore through my bags. and i leave the returnables bag open, so if the first person comes along is a cans-only collector, then they take what they want and leave the rest. eventually, it all goes. _________________ Get your paws off my canned chicken
MeanDººD Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 43 Location: BoSlope-a-Mo'Bush
Tue Sep 19, 06 5:24 pm EST
erikka wrote:
Does anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it?
try leaving a little ripple out, laced with clorox. those pests will think twice before coming around again.
erikka Bruce Ratner's Love Child
Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 754
Tue Sep 19, 06 5:27 pm EST
MeanDººD wrote:
erikka wrote:
Does anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it?
try leaving a little ripple out, laced with clorox. those pests will think twice before coming around again.
What's your address--I'll bring one over for you, too. Or maybe I can just dump an entire bag of recycling in front of your house just like how I found it in front of mine. No one should miss out on that kind of fun!
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Tue Sep 19, 06 5:34 pm EST
MeanDººD wrote:
erikka wrote:
Does anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it?
try leaving a little ripple out, laced with clorox. those pests will think twice before coming around again.
Can you still get Ripple? I've been thinking of having a cheap wine tasting contest/party/whatever, but the only stuff I can find around here is Sisco (with thanks to these boards!)
MeanDººD Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 43 Location: BoSlope-a-Mo'Bush
Tue Sep 19, 06 5:39 pm EST
they dont make ripple no more.
willregistersoon Local
Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 268
Tue Sep 19, 06 5:59 pm EST
Can you fight that ticket?
pitu Fake Buddhist
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 6489 Location: Utopian Park Slope
Tue Sep 19, 06 6:11 pm EST
Drano wrote:
Can you still get Ripple? I've been thinking of having a cheap wine tasting contest/party/whatever, but the only stuff I can find around here is Sisco (with thanks to these boards!)
Does it have to be in the NightTrain kitsch family of libations? Boone's Farm? Taylor Lake Country Pink? Is grape flavor Malt Duck still out there??
If not there's a bounty of $3 - $5 bottles at Trader Joe's and one of them might be delicious!
Canners will not be interested in these bottles however. No deposit, no return.
raw "Way Too Incestial"
Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 2036
Tue Sep 19, 06 9:24 pm EST
The same problem has driven me Samuel-L.-Jackson-Snakes-on-a-Plane CRAZY.
Are the people going through our trash homeless? Are they living in poverty in homes? Are they jobless rich people seeking dirty jollies?
If these people actually do have homes, I might blow up Brooklyn psycho someday, follow them, and scatter garbage all over their homes.
If they do not speak English, find out which languages they speak and I'll find translators.
Are these slobs legally sane or insane like me?
erikka Bruce Ratner's Love Child
Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 754
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:07 pm EST
willregistersoon wrote:
Can you fight that ticket?
Hmm...probably. Has anyone done this? How much time/energy did it take or do they just throw them out? We're up to two now - maybe three but that could be somewhere strewn in the garbage as well.
erikka Bruce Ratner's Love Child
Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 754
Tue Sep 19, 06 10:09 pm EST
raw wrote:
Are the people going through our trash homeless? Are they living in poverty in homes? Are they jobless rich people seeking dirty jollies?
I don't think they are homeless--most of the people I've seen have been elderly but looked kept. Who knows--like I said, I have no idea how much there is to be made off it. Maybe they're all secretly raking it in, laughing at us suckers.
escap expatriated
Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 1189
Wed Sep 20, 06 12:02 am EST
I almost never give money to panhandlers (unless I'm drunk), but allowing people to take my cans and bottles is one thing that doesn't bother me in the slightest. Playing us for suckers?? Enabling their "can dependence"? I'm pretty baffled by these comments. How am I a sucker if someone takes my garbage and recycles it? And if they make a living off of that, even if they make millions, that doesn't bother me at all. It's not begging, it actually a legitimate contribution. Fine, the noise issue I can understand, and obviously no one wants their trash strewn about. I just leave my bottles in the recycling bin and have never had a problem.
erikka Bruce Ratner's Love Child
Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 754
Wed Sep 20, 06 9:15 am EST
escap wrote:
I almost never give money to panhandlers (unless I'm drunk), but allowing people to take my cans and bottles is one thing that doesn't bother me in the slightest. Playing us for suckers?? Enabling their "can dependence"? I'm pretty baffled by these comments. How am I a sucker if someone takes my garbage and recycles it? And if they make a living off of that, even if they make millions, that doesn't bother me at all. It's not begging, it actually a legitimate contribution. Fine, the noise issue I can understand, and obviously no one wants their trash strewn about. I just leave my bottles in the recycling bin and have never had a problem.
I'm not sure where you got the notion that I have a problem with recycling--I certainly do not. If I did I wouldn't leave the bags loosely tied so they can access what's inside. If they're willing to do the work then they deserve the profits. What I do have a problem with is people leaving a mess in front of my house that causes my building to get ticketed and fined.
And the sucker part was a joke, I was implying that if there's money to be made we're suckers for leaving it sitting on the curb for other people to take (I was referencing someone above stating that people in LA put their children thru school thru recycling funds). Did you sense of humor go out on the curb this morning?
Yavel Regular
Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 168 Location: The Boneyard
Wed Sep 20, 06 11:08 am EST
raw wrote:
Are the people going through our trash homeless? Are they living in poverty in homes? Are they jobless rich people seeking dirty jollies?
When I was living in Ditmas Park there was a guy living in my building who collected cans. He wasn't homeless, but he was kind of disturbed and was living with his sister. I don't think he could've held down a regular job, so he collected cans to help out. It didn't seem like they depended on the proceeds from the cans. It was more like the guy needed something to do.
brooklynpotter ceramme ceramma danna
Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 3996 Location: near the square that's a circle
Wed Sep 20, 06 11:25 am EST
raw wrote:
Are the people going through our trash homeless? Are they living in poverty in homes? Are they jobless rich people seeking dirty jollies?
what i meant by enabling was that perhaps we were continuing this cycle of poverty by continuing with the cans. if many of them didn't have this as their job, they might be forced to see social workers, get welfare, etc.
i think some of them also might be reticent to do that because they're illegal aliens and know there couldbe repurcussions.
i certainly never felt we should be mean to the can people and take away their source of income, but in my idealistic view i have to believe there's another way, a better way. _________________ what would you tell me, if i could hear you speaking?--t.r.
Azimuth Guest
Mon Sep 25, 06 4:13 pm EST
As a transplant from Vermont who is now living in Brooklyn Heights, I'm amazed that Adults do the bottle/can scavenging that I used to do as a child supplementing my allowance over 25 years ago. (People tossed their beer bottles out car windows onto the grass.) And these adults do it for the same old five-cent deposit. It takes 200 bottles and cans just to make 10 bucks!
I understand that New York's history of recycling goes back to the ragpickers who made sure no cotton scrap went unresold. I am glad that these options allow some independence for people who find it hard to do better. I have heard that some can-scavenging routes are long-established and well-defended by those who follow them.
I always leave my 5-cent deposit bottles and cans in a separate plastic grocery bag. Too bad that uncarbonated water (those little plastic bottles) have no deposits. (Ask your state legislators to pass the Bigger Better Bottle Bill; you'll see fewer overflowing public trash cans.)
erikka Bruce Ratner's Love Child
Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 754
Mon Sep 25, 06 4:32 pm EST
Went out at 8:00 last night--there was already a mess from the garbage that was put out to be picked up this morning. Looks like everyone else in the building has wised up and started putting their recycling out right before the trucks come in the morning. So instead of ripping through the recycling they ripped open the garbage bags and rummaged through tem. Someone opened a bag of clothing (that was put out specifically for people to take) and threw what they didn't want on the sidewalk and front steps. And mystery garbage has started appearing--coaxial cables, small furniture items. Is anyone else in the area (south slope/16th street) having this problem as well (there's mostly construction on my block so I can't tell)? I give up.
Is anyone else in the area (south slope/16th street) having this problem as well (there's mostly construction on my block so I can't tell)? I give up.
sorry you are still experiencing problems.
to answer your question, i'm on windsor place and we don't seem to have that problem for the most part. _________________ Get your paws off my canned chicken
Guest
Tue Sep 26, 06 12:17 pm EST
Some moron dumped 20 sq ft of used undercarpet on my stoop on Saturday night...
findcate Local
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 243 Location: park slope
Wed Sep 27, 06 4:23 pm EST
btw, this is a good idea. probably a little pricey, i guess you could just use your foot to compress plastic bottles. it would be great if it did glass as well--but why aren't there more solutions for organizing home recycling? It's a huge pain to store bottles, newspapers, bags, etc in a small apt before recycling.
I haven't seen people digging for scrap metal/glass/plastic in this country
Actually, I have seen that, but only here in NYC. Recently I saw a man disemboweling an old air conditioner that someone had discarded. When I walked past, he had punched a hole in it and was letting the freon gas escape. Weird sight - it made a loud hissing noise, and looked kind of like steam.
homeowner "Way Too Incestial"
Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 2068 Location: Between a rock and a hard place
Wed Sep 27, 06 5:48 pm EST
cythren wrote:
pitu wrote:
I haven't seen people digging for scrap metal/glass/plastic in this country
Actually, I have seen that, but only here in NYC. Recently I saw a man disemboweling an old air conditioner that someone had discarded. When I walked past, he had punched a hole in it and was letting the freon gas escape. Weird sight - it made a loud hissing noise, and looked kind of like steam.
I don't think scrap metal was a big one here in NYC ever, although I do remember stories of folks stealing copper wiring out of the subways back in the 70's. However, I think that Baltimore had a big problem with people stealing streetlights a few years ago
brooklynpotter ceramme ceramma danna
Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 3996 Location: near the square that's a circle
Wed Sep 27, 06 5:52 pm EST
scrap metal here is HUGE. there's that place down on hamilton you can see from the F.
my mother and i always lament that instead of leaving brooklyn in the 40s for greener pastures, my grandparents should have stayed here and started a scrap metal business. we'd be gazillionaires _________________ what would you tell me, if i could hear you speaking?--t.r.
Rose Ninja
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 911 Location: South Slope
Wed Sep 27, 06 9:54 pm EST
There seem to be a lot of people who collect scrap metal. I see them going down my street with shopping carts piled with the stuff -- I guess they are taking it to the place BP mentioned. I left an old air conditioner outside last summer and it was quickly disembowelled.
stacey Beyond Karma
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 3105 Location: Underhill Ave.
Wed Sep 27, 06 11:24 pm EST
pitu wrote:
I haven't seen people digging for scrap metal/glass/plastic in this country
I worked with a guy once who was a bottle collector. He and his father would go to homes doing renovations or yard work and ask if they could dig. He told me 99% of the times they found something. He explained to me that many people used to throw the garbage in the yard or down the outhouse holes. Then when the City started picking up garbage most of these people just filled in these outhouse holes.
When my mother was selling the house he asked if he could dig in our yard and my mother said yes. He found 3 plain bottles, some sort of medical tonic, a beer bottle and a childs toy in the shape of a horse. They used to sell these bottles at the street fairs and they always had a stand at the Atlantic Antic. Last time I saw the son he said that they pretty much sell their stuff at shows and on e-bay.
MeanDººD Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 43 Location: BoSlope-a-Mo'Bush
Thu Sep 28, 06 2:07 am EST
I HATE garbage! It's Gross!
Guest
Mon Jan 15, 07 12:45 pm EST
Flexichick, Hi there Flexichick, call me O'kay, (number deleted by mod) to read the bible. God bless You.
(Name deleted by mod); Syracuse, New York _
brooklynpotter ceramme ceramma danna
Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 3996 Location: near the square that's a circle
Mon Jan 15, 07 12:46 pm EST
yes, flexi, let's all read the bible together _________________ what would you tell me, if i could hear you speaking?--t.r.
Flexichick, Hi there Flexichick, call me O'kay, (number deleted by mod) to read the bible. God bless You.
(Name deleted by mod); Syracuse, New York _
Guest: Posting a real name and number is probably not a good idea on ANY website. Also there's no way for us to know that this is a real name and number anyway. So I've redacted your name and number. If you want to contact a poster here directly, you should register a username and send a private message -- but if this is the kind of thing you're going to send, don't be surprised if you don't get responses. -- Moderator
That's not Father Ritter is it? _________________ I'm a Chain Belt...that's called the "quart of blood" technique. You do that, a quart of blood will drop out of a man's body.
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