Thread: People going thru your recycle bin

Why is your missus upset that people go through your bin? If people are making use of your rubbish and are saving it from the tip, we should be encouraging it. Once it’s in the bin, surely that means you don’t want it anymore? I honestly don’t see the issue and actually think its a good idea.

If you are silly enough to put unshredded personal papers into the recycling, that’s your issue I reckon. If anyone wants to go through my bin I’m putting it out tonight

things placed in the bin are your property
and are being given to the council.

taking something that doesn't belong to you is theft.

How can it be that something that has obviously been discarded that someone else picks it up can be called "Theft"?

Originally Posted by trout1105

How can it be that something that has obviously been discarded that someone else picks it up can be called "Theft"?

Well you haven't "discarded it" you have placed it in a recycle bin provided by the council, parked on council land for a council appointed contractor to pick up. All in your council's rules.

Originally Posted by Eevo

things placed in the bin are your property
and are being given to the council.

taking something that doesn't belong to you is theft.

Originally Posted by bee utey

Well you haven't "discarded it" you have placed it in a recycle bin provided by the council, parked on council land for a council appointed contractor to pick up. All in your council's rules.

Beeutey and Eevo - I think you guys might have been smoking crack I’m pretty sure a Council has never taken someone to court for taking a jam jar from a recycling bin. Or for taking anything from a recycling bin in Australia (other than the previously mentioned and stupid habit of not shredding your bank statements etc).

Although you may be technically right in terms of ownership, you are wrong in terms of enforcement. I work for a local council and we’ve never prosecuted someone for stealing rubbish. On the contrary, we like to fine people for leaving rubbish instead.

Originally Posted by gusthedog

Beeutey and Eevo - I think you guys might have been smoking crack I’m pretty sure a Council has never taken someone to court for taking a jam jar from a recycling bin. Or for taking anything from a recycling bin in Australia (other than the previously mentioned and stupid habit of not shredding your bank statements etc).

Although you may be technically right in terms of ownership, you are wrong in terms of enforcement. I work for a local council and we’ve never prosecuted someone for stealing rubbish. On the contrary, we like to fine people for leaving rubbish instead.

From the Adelaide Advertiser:

Unley Council calls for a crackdown on thieves taking recyclables from private wheelie bins

Emmie Dowling, Eastern Courier Messenger
September 29, 2014 10:45am

AN UNLEY councillor has called for a crackdown on people stealing bottles and cans from private wheelie bins, saying the thefts are costing the council.

Unley Council, through its waste collector SKM Recycling, pockets the return from all bottles and cans picked up during its fortnightly household rubbish collection.
But Cr Jennie Boisvert said people were taking the recyclables from bins before the council had a chance to collect the rubbish.
Cr Boisvert told last week’s council meeting if people stole one 10c container from every bin in the district, it could cost the council upwards of $900 a week, or almost $47,000 a year, in lost revenue.
She said people going through residents’ bins also raised privacy concerns.
“Residents have told me they didn’t want someone to rummage through their private things,” Cr Boisvert told the Eastern Courier Messenger.
“I would want the council to look at whether it would be feasible to stop people from stealing from bins.”
In response to Cr Boisvert’s questions, the council said rubbish became its property once bins were placed on a street verge for collection.
It said policing theft from bins would be “difficult to manage and police”.
“So options are limited,” a report to the council said.
It said the only way to penalise thieves would be to take legal action.
A property owner would then need to record what was taken, give details of the person allegedly scavenging and be prepared to go to court at the council or waste contractor’s expense.
A SKM Recycling spokesman, who refused to be named, said the council did not profit from each 10c recyclable container but rather the weight of all recyclables per tonne.
Profits would vary depending on the level of contamination on items.
AnglicareSA acting chief executive Jackie Howard said it was not just the homeless taking trash for treasure.
“Our experience … is that anyone enterprising is collecting 10c containers, not just people doing it tough,” Ms Howard said.
“We support any legal and safe way people want to make extra cash.
“Collecting 10c containers also helps to keep South Australia clean and encourages recycling.”

I don't smoke. Anyway it's not rubbish, it's recyclables. Different bin and everything, in case you hadn't noticed.

Originally Posted by bee utey

I don't smoke. Anyway it's not rubbish, it's recyclables. Different bin and everything, in case you hadn't noticed.

If the shire/council is making a quid from the recyclables then why are not reducing rates because of this extra income they are getting from households this way?
The shire/council doesn't give anyone a discount for their recyclables earnings So as far as I am concerned whoever gets there first can have my junk Just as long as it is "Gone"

Originally Posted by bee utey

Well you haven't "discarded it" you have placed it in a recycle bin provided by the council, parked on council land for a council appointed contractor to pick up. All in your council's rules.

exactly. and you/we pay for that that service.