# my neighbors are rooting through my trash! Yuck! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 11, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428 "2009-02-11T21:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/121 "2009-02-14T12:04:55Z")
They’re obviously Eco warriors. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/122 "2009-02-14T12:48:53Z")
> [@dmatsch](#): > > Thanks for defending me, wook. I’m kind of done with this thread. Apparently I’m in the wrong for feeling like my privacy has been invaded by a bunch of drunk losers. If they’re opening your trash bags then yeah, I can see where you feel that way. > [@](#): > > I’m also in the wrong for feeling that it’s disgusting to root through other people’s refuse “looking for something good”. If I need something, I’ll go buy a new one. Then you are fortunate never to have been desperately poor. I remember when I lived in Chicago that some of the homeless had regular routes they followed to dumpster dive and retrieve useful items. I find it disturbing that a person might need to depend on, say, scavenging cans out of dumpsters in order to sell for scrap for a few pitiful dollars, but on the other hand, I can’t find it to begrudge said desperate person that option. Some people would go so far as to label a bag with “cans” or “clothes”, or to set such items next to a dumpster so the homeless could have easy access. On the other hand, I also shredded personal documents and included them with disgusting objects like used menstrual pads and diapers and such in order to discourage, ah, exploration. And yeah, I’ve pulled stuff out of the trash, too. In fact, these days, due to financial issues, I’m now collecting cans and as soon as I get several pounds I’ll cash them in at the local recycler. On the other hand, I’m inclined to knock and ask permission first before dumpster diving unless it’s obvious scavenging is being facilitated or encouraged. You mention chronic unemployment (among other things) with these neighbors, perhaps this represents income to them. I suppose you could mention that, while you don’t mind them taking stuff like furniture sitting outside the dumpster/bin/can you DO have an issue with them opening bags. For myself, I have found mentioning biohazards to be useful - “Oh, I’m just concerned because there are shitty diapers/bloody bandages/some other disgusting effluvium and it may be a health hazard”. Of course, that does not always work. On the other hand, if you find out they are after something like aluminum cans maybe you can set those aside? Needless to say, you don’t have to do any of that - you can just bag your crap and not bother. It’s totally optional. > [@](#): > > Not all of the cat food dumps out of the cans every morning. Am I being wasteful in tossing the couple of tasty morsels out any more than tossing out a 1/2 missing BBQ set my ex gave me – that I never wanted or used – that I’m sick of looking at? It’s 1/2 missing. But if the can and the BBQ set have value as scrap it might well be valuable to someone else (this is why I have to keep my collection of smooshed soda cans inside, they are far to “valuable” to leave outside). > [@](#): > > And yes, they’re opening up the bags. That IS disgusting. Ew. > [@](#): > > And why the fuck should I have to inconvenience myself by taking my Netflix to another mailing location? My mailbox should be secure. I agree, it should be. On the other hand, I got so tired of mail disappearing (either through theft or the box getting run over a lot or the mailidiot misdelivering it) that I eventually got a PO Box and started mailing my stuff from the post office down the road. A lot less of my mail goes missing. I’m still ticked at the notion of having to rent the box, but I didn’t see it as a battle I was going to win. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/123 "2009-02-14T14:31:07Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > I once put a DVD player beside the trash with a note: > > **This player is working but there is no remote** > > About an hour later it was still there with another note. > > \*\*When you find the remote I’ll have it \*\* > > Some people Before Christmas my DVD player crapped out, so when I replaced it, I packed it neatley in the box that the new player came in. Then the next time I was shopping in a rough area of town, I put the busted DVD in the new box on top of my car while I went shopping. Sure enough, the busted DVD was gone when I returned. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/124 "2009-02-15T03:12:14Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > I once put a DVD player beside the trash with a note: > > **This player is working but there is no remote** > > About an hour later it was still there with another note. > > \*\*When you find the remote I’ll have it \*\* > > Some people Reading this has brightened up my day. It’s like something from The Reader’s Digest. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/125 "2009-02-15T03:13:23Z")
Our council has a kerbside cleanup five times a year. Each household is allowed to put out one cubic metre of stuff (with some exclusions: chemicals, bricks etc). We have cars with trailers attached going around the streets on the Sunday afternoon before the collection, looking for ‘good’ junk to collect. I’m always glad when they stop at my place and take some of my discards, because then I can add more to The Pile. PS I have an unpleasant image which won’t leave my head of your neighbours rooting in the trash. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/126 "2009-02-15T16:01:20Z")
Dmastch ,it seems like you are tossing out some real good stuff. Could you give us your address and the day and time of pickup so we can come by and check it out.? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/127 "2009-02-15T17:15:22Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Have you ever dealt with lice? Lets just say that after six days of washing sheets, clothes, pillows, vaccuuming the couch, confiscating every hairbrush and rubber band and spending hours picking through hair, taking the time to make the stuffed animals unattractive to trash pickers is far below little things like … sleeping. Yeah…I think this is a case of trash surfer beware. Does anyone actually think that when they throw something in the trash (i.e., garbage) that they need to warn trash pickers that it might be dangerous or contaminated? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/128 "2009-02-15T18:37:43Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Yeah…I think this is a case of trash surfer beware. Does anyone actually think that when they throw something in the trash (i.e., garbage) that they need to warn trash pickers that it might be dangerous or contaminated? Well, after the first successful lawsuit…🙂 (Mostly kidding.) ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/129 "2009-02-16T04:16:36Z")
We once scored a great loveseat the neighbors threw out, perfect color and style, looked very clean…until we got it in the house and realized they were heavy smokers. I hope they didn’t see us returning it to the trash pile ten minutes later… ---
**Author:** ![Crono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crono)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/130 "2015-02-26T18:10:58Z")
I caught my duplex neighbor and desert properties apartments worker looking through my trash when i took a day off from work. I went outside and said that is for sale, referring to the broken/holed folded air mattress they picked up. $5 I said, then they said sorry and closed it… “But it’s in the trash she said!” Well, its on my property. Maybe when it’s on the street / trash day, that’s a different story. But I don’t want to see you going through my trash. I see it this way. If you want my eroded, slimy shit, then you have to take ALL of the trash, not just one thing, then I would be more cool with it. Take the whole bag, not open everything and take 1-2 things then now there isn’t room to even close the damn lid like i had. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/131 "2015-02-26T18:21:07Z")
mmmmm Delicious Zombie Trash… ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/132 "2015-02-26T18:38:36Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I once put a broken monitor in the trash room, and saw it disappear and reappear _three times_ before the garbage company got it. Why would you get rid of a magical monitor? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/133 "2015-02-26T18:50:18Z")
Garbage, in the real world, means the shit in the bags, not junk. And it doesn’t matter how illogical you think it is, it is considered creepy to go through people’s garbage. Stalkers get arrested for that shit. And people like to say I’m out of touch. ---
**Author:** ![Fallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Fallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fallen)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/134 "2015-02-26T18:57:04Z")
Anyone who believes someone is opening his mail box to retrieve to-be-returned Netflix should be reporting to the local postmaster. (One is also free to get the person on camera.) As for the invasion of privacy angle, not much (CA may have a law intended to address paparazzi going through celebrity trash for details of X, and I suspect you won’t often see prosecutions outside that narrow path). I think folks ought to be more angry about government invasion of privacy, but at any rate it’s best to understand that the average layperson’s idea of “invasion of privacy” and what is “confidential” almost always boils down to a deep misunderstanding about the law. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/135 "2015-02-26T19:49:35Z")
i’m glad this thread was revived. It gives me the opportunity to thank the OP for letting me know how great his trash is. It has changed my life. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/136 "2015-02-26T20:20:46Z")
> [@Crono](#): > > Take the whole bag, not open everything and take 1-2 things then now there isn’t room to even close the damn lid like i had. Taking things out of it makes it bigger? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/137 "2015-02-26T20:24:16Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Garbage, in the real world, means the shit in the bags, not junk. And it doesn’t matter how illogical you think it is, it is considered creepy to go through people’s garbage. Stalkers get arrested for that shit. > > And people like to say I’m out of touch. Weren’t you the guy that said tampons could be used more than once? ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/138 "2015-02-26T21:44:16Z")
I’m not sure I’d appreciate my neighbours going through trash bags that are knotted shut but living in North London, we do not own a car so trips to the dump are a PITA. Lately we’ve taken to putting the odd thing on the sidewalk…a coffee table, a cat tree etc, and by the morning they were all gone. Win win IMHO ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/139 "2015-02-27T14:48:30Z")
Leave written notes in the trash for them to find. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428/140 "2015-02-27T19:11:33Z")
I also think it depends on whether you know the person or not. I generally wouldn’t stop and pick something off of a curb, because you never know why they threw it away. But if I had a neighbor or a friend who was doing so, I might ask them if I could have it first. Going through trash bags, though, that’s fucking disgusting. Opening them up is a great way to draw raccoons. Fortunately around here trash cans are manditory. > [@BlankSlate](#): > > Weren’t you the guy that said tampons could be used more than once? :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-are-rooting-through-my-trash-yuck/485428.md?page=8)