For you garbage collectors out there...

[rharkins]

We have roadside garbage collection where we currently live. I heard the truck idling at the gate for quite a while this week, so I looked out the window and saw the loader and the driver digging through my garbage as it went into the truck. I had cleaned out the garage last weekend, so there might have been some attractive goodies in there.

Still, it makes me very nervous to have these guys digging through my trash before it goes into the truck. I shred all my financial documents, so I'm not really worried about identity theft. The garbage company is a respected local company, but I don't know how much they screen their employees.

Am I being paranoid? Is the privilege of picking goodies from the trash a bonus for employees doing a less than glamorous and under-appreciated job?

 

[George2615]

Since you cleaned out the garage they were probably looking for some useful treasure (tools, parts, metal etc.). One mans trash is another mans treasure as the saying goes.
Local guys in my area do the same. One trash guy picked up a gas powered weed eater the previous owner threw out. Only thing wrong was the carb was gummed up from sitting. Another picked up a good TV. The owner had bought a new flat screen and put the regular working TV to the curb. Don't be too paranoid.

 

[jayste]

I agree with George. They probably thought you had some treasures from the garage cleanup. Some will probably look for metal as well to sell to the scrap yard.

 

[brin]

I disagree...be paranoid..it is your trash and you contracted to have it hauled away not sorted through...do you want your garbage sorted. Do you know that law enforcement does this routinely when they suspect someone of something..You can learn a lot about a person or a family by going through their trash - that is why movie stars and others are very protective of how their trash is removed. I would call the company and complain and let them know you will be watching and a repeat of this will mean cancellation. Be careful.

 

[jayste]

What's to stop them from looking through it when they get out of sight. A lot of the time they leave it in the back "dump" area until it gets full and then cycle it through. If you think they're not doing it your mistaken. The idea is to NOT put items in your trash that can be used to identify you. The op has already stated he shreds his documents and is careful to not put in personal items. My guess is that even if you did call and report it they're still going to do it because they aren't being monitored by the company.

 

[brin]

Well you've got a point Jay...just means we all have to be careful in this era of ID theft..you make a real good point - indeed they can just go around the corner and sort through it but to stay on schedule they can only do that so many times...I still think letting the company know you don't appreciate it would go a long way to stop them from going through yours.

 

[jayste]

Well you've got a point Jay...just means we all have to be careful in this era of ID theft..you make a real good point - indeed they can just go around the corner and sort through it but to stay on schedule they can only do that so many times...I still think letting the company know you don't appreciate it would go a long way to stop them from going through yours.

I guess it's worth a try.

 

[jinman]

I think if I drove a garbage truck I'd feel like I had the right to sort through anything I put into it. What if I put something in there that explodes or contaminates all my garbage so they won't accept it at the landfill?

About two years ago, our garbage collector had motor oil dripping from the back of his truck after picking up garbage on another road about 2 miles from my house. As he stopped at my house, he noticed the oil running out of the truck. Somebody must have disposed of at least 5 gallons of motor oil in their trash. The driver had to stop his truck and call in a cleanup crew to come out and clean up the truck and also scrape all the oil soaked gravel off the road and replace it with clean gravel. The cost for the equipment and crew just for that event was probably several thousand dollars.

I think it's up to me to make sure my identity is protected and not put that responsibility on the garbage guy. The day I tell my garbage guy he can't look at my trash is probably the day he will drive away and tell me to keep it. I think if I drove a truck, I'd feel the same way.

 

[Kays Supply]

We don't have a choice when it comes to garbage haulers. The city contracts them and bills you with your water and sewer. Payback can be terrible. If the truck guy gets in trouble, he can leave you quite a mess each time he comes by your place. Or just skip you a few times a month. Is it really worth it? It's garbage.

 

[MossRoad]

... I looked out the window and saw the loader and the driver digging through my garbage as it went into the truck....

You still have two man crews? Must be a union job.

None of the trash haulers around here have two man crews anymore. They changed all of the cans to the ones that can be auto-loaded from the cab. You just have to park the can near the street with the handle facing the house so they can grab it with the lift arm. The only time the guy gets out of the cab is when you put out extra bags next to the can.

As for looking through your trash... forget about it. What's stopping anyone from looking through it once you put it out there? It is trash. Let it go.

Just be sure to shred or burn all documents with important numbers and info. We fill two or three of those multi-pocket boxes every year and keep our documents in there. We number them by year. After 8 years, we go through them, make sure no owner's manuals, warranties, etc... that should be kept for eternity are in there and burn the rest. There are usually too many items for the shredder to be practical, so we burn them and use the ashes in our garden.