Don't interfere with county profits!

OccamsRazor

Well-Known Member
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. :sshrug:

What are your thoughts??
 

Grumpy

Well-Known Member
authority.jpeg
 

Sneakers

Just sneakin' around....
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

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

OccamsRazor

Well-Known Member
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

Well-Known Member
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.
 
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LightRoasted

If I may ...
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

Honorary SMIB
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.
 

KingFish

Nothing to see here
I remember going to the metal pile to look at push mowers. Found good ones and took it home and got them running and used them until they really reached their expiration date. Now they do not let you do that anymore.
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
I remember going to the metal pile to look at push mowers. Found good ones and took it home and got them running and used them until they really reached their expiration date. Now they do not let you do that anymore.
When the Callaway xfer station first opened up, people would set things like mowers and power washers just off to the side of the dumpster and we'd regularly fetch those home to fix the ethanol issues that were almost always the reason they didn't run. Then the country shut that practice down...
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
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. :sshrug:

What are your thoughts??
There are companies that purchase that stuff to recover components or even to grind it all to fine dust and recover the gold. I doubt its more than a few dollars a ton though...
 

Clem72

Well-Known Member
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. :sshrug:

What are your thoughts??
So where do you think they are selling all of these (mostly broken) electronics? Best buy? I am almost certain the reason they prevent you from taking stuff is a liability issue. Once it's dropped off it's in their possession, if you take something and hurt yourself or others (kill yourself playing with a microwave transformer, burn down the neighborhood with the fresnel lens from a big screen tv) they might be partially liable. Easiest way to head that off is to have a blanket policy.
 

mitzi

Well-Known Member
When the Callaway xfer station first opened up, people would set things like mowers and power washers just off to the side of the dumpster and we'd regularly fetch those home to fix the ethanol issues that were almost always the reason they didn't run. Then the country shut that practice down...

The one in Oakville set things by the dumpster too. I picked up a few things now and then, thinking if it didn't work I could just throw it. I got a VCR, coffee maker, electric skillet and more all working. The VCR still worked the last time I used it (about 7 years ago, I snagged it in 2002). I used to have tons of Disney tapes for when the grandson was over.
 
Last edited:

BOP

Well-Known Member
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...
You ever watch Mr. Carlson's Lab on youtube?
 
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