Don't interfere with county profits!

[OccamsRazor]

Question...

Was at the transfer station this past weekend and saw something interesting in the dumped/donated/discarded electronics trailer. went in to look and saw it was an old reel to reel tape machine. I thought to myself "This would be an interesting project to bring back to life and save from the landfill."
Before I could grab it to save, I heard "HEY... You can't take anything out of there!" from the attendant.
I asked him "I like to fix things up and restore them. Why can't I take it since it will be discarded anyways?" His reply was "You can't take anything out. PERIOD!"
My reply... "You guys don't discard this stuff do you? You sell it for a profit. Why else would you not let people try to save it from being buried somewhere and repurpose it?"
No reply from the attendant...

As someone who really does not like to see these items go to waste, I was pretty disappointed that they do not encourage people to attempt to save them. I guess the profit margin for the county to resell these items is pretty good.

What are your thoughts??

 

[Grumpy]

 

[Sneakers]

Nearly all disposal places have policies like that, nothing new.

My thoughts? If the owner wasn't motivated enough to advertise it before tossing, that's life. if you like to fix things, I have a dishwasher and GMC 2014 1500 steering rack in the truck right now on it's way to the dumps. You want them?

 

[John Z]

I'm guessing they don't want the electronics recycle "bin" to become a rummage-through swap meet. Because it would.

 

[OccamsRazor]

Nearly all disposal places have policies like that, nothing new.

My thoughts? If the owner wasn't motivated enough to advertise it before tossing, that's life. if you like to fix things, I have a dishwasher and GMC 2014 1500 steering rack in the truck right now on it's way to the dumps. You want them?

I mostly like to repair and restore old electronics. Particularly radios, amplifiers, etc.
And... who cares if people go through it and grab items? If they are willing to fix them up and spare them from the landfills then I'm all for it!
Like I said, it must be a profit for the county otherwise they wouldn't care either...

 

[NOTSMC]

I mostly like to repair and restore old electronics. Particularly radios, amplifiers, etc.
And... who cares if people go through it and grab items? If they are willing to fix them up and spare them from the landfills then I'm all for it!
Like I said, it must be a profit for the county otherwise they wouldn't care either...

That happens all the time at the dump in Ridge and sometimes it just depends on who's minding the store. I haven't been to the dump in a bit, but the last time I was there the attendant was someone I used to work with on base. He was a Nazi at work and he was a Nazi at the dump until he saw me taking a several cast iron pieces out of my trunk to toss in the metal container. He was real sweet talker than, took them right off my hands right into his truck. When he's not there I have seen people digging through the electronics and putting things in their vehicles while other attendants have watched on w/o a word. I don't know what the big deal is either; it's not like they're stepping into the dumpster to retrieve something.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...



I go into the little shed at Appeal where people throw away fire extinguishers .... because of an expired date tag! Even though the gauge is still well in the green. Load up the best looking ones. Never been told not to.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

For your consideration ...



I go into the little shed at Appeal where people throw away fire extinguishers .... because of an expired date tag! Even though the gauge is still well in the green. Load up the best looking ones. Never been told not to.

The different Counties may have different rules. Trash is at best break even, none of the Counties are padding their budgets with it. The reason for tipping fees (and in Calvert the add on for the Convenience Centers) is because all that trash and recyclables that people think are sold are actually having to be paid for someone to take it away.

Calvert had a chance to at least break even or even make a little bit of cash flow on recyclables thirty years ago when they were forced to set up the program but the Old Boys in charge ****ed it up.