Free Stuff

[MossRoad]

I'm looking for some food grade IBC totes and pickle barrels.... hard to find for free.

As for getting free stuff, I've gotten tons (literally) of steel from places that didn't want to pay to have it hauled off. Very useful stuff. :thumbsup:

 

[s219]

We have a policy where I work, prohibiting anybody from raiding the trash/scrap bins. It's a pity too, as I see a lot of usable stuff get tossed out. From what I heard, about 30 years ago they caught employees sneaking new stock into the trash so they could raid it later on, and that's how the policy started. About the only thing we take home are coffee cans, since we're buying/providing the coffee ourselves!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I got a never used, but 12 year old 3 phase 25 hp motor. Plan to make it a rotary phase converter someday for my lathe.

 

[ultrarunner]

My wife is a realtor broker and deals in foreclosures. You would be amazed at what people leave behind when they abandon a house. Once there was a safe that I took home and cut it open to find $1200. Why didn't they take that money to make a house payment?

The house next to me was given back to the bank... inside the garage was a Hotel Safe... about 6' tall 5' wide and 3' deep... one side it was all "Safe Deposit Boxes" and the other shelves... not suitable for long guns ;-(

Turned out my neighbor had a significant grow operation and thus an entire roof of solar panels... less I digress.

Anyway a few days before he left... he gave me the combo and said it was mine...

There was no way for me to move it... he said he paid $3500 for a safe company to move it 11 miles...

The funny thing is the home has changed hands several times since and each owner has heavily advertised the safe and each though they were going to make thousands of dollars... well it is still there...

If I like the people... I give them the combination as a housewarming gift!

 

[mark02tj]

We have a policy where I work, prohibiting anybody from raiding the trash/scrap bins. It's a pity too, as I see a lot of usable stuff get tossed out. From what I heard, about 30 years ago they caught employees sneaking new stock into the trash so they could raid it later on, and that's how the policy started. About the only thing we take home are coffee cans, since we're buying/providing the coffee ourselves!

A buddy of mine worked for Grainger's for a bit back in college (30 years ago). They had the same policy for the same reason. Anything that went in the dumpster had a sledge hammer taken to it first to make sure it was completely non-usable.

 

[rtimgray]

A buddy of mine worked for Grainger's for a bit back in college (30 years ago). They had the same policy for the same reason. Anything that went in the dumpster had a sledge hammer taken to it first to make sure it was completely non-usable.

This is the same for my workplace. We used to be able to get "carry out" forms for removal of scrap or property, but some people abused it. Items that we used to get to take home included the 250(ish) gallon caged totes (IBCs), 5 gallon buckets, scrap metal, plastic and metal drums, etc. Now we can't even take home empty copier paper boxes. It's a shame to see all of this useful stuff trashed because of the actions of a few, but I do understand the policy, even if I don't like it.

Good luck and take care.

 

[ultrarunner]

I sure could use a couple of IBC totes for free!

Very typical here for professional dumpster divers to go through dumpster every night...

The Hospital backs up to a retail center with large grocery stores, shops eateries... anything metal set outside will be gone... same for cardboard.

They had tried locks and chain link enclosures with no luck... locks cut, chain link cut... then video was tried... even took the cameras by stacking milk crates to reach them 14' high.

We have to pay for cardboard disposal and this includes a special dumpster... it actually saves me money because whatever cardboard is put out will be gone...

Years ago, I was at a Ford Dealer and they were tossing binders from the parts department... all was going digital.

I aske the parts manager if I could have them and he said everything must go into the dumpster... being a kid... I just pulled up to the dumpster and started pulling them out... the Service Manager came running out all upset... I said the Part guy told me where to find the binders... now he is out there and then comes the General Manager... they say company policy say employees cannot scavenge... I say I'm a customer and I come in several times each week...

Just then the owner pulls up and wants to know what all the fuss is about... the top 3 managers and me standing around the dumpster...

The owner knows my Grandfather and speak up that I come in several times a week to buy parts for the Mustangs I restore... and sure could use the binders... he tells me to go ahead and then says to his guys if they don't have something better to do...

 

[ultrarunner]

The Hospital is always upgrading equipment and some things simply cannot be tossed unless rendered unusable...

Last year we were upgrading monitors and the Medical Staff was told they could each have one for their office and if any were left over... they could request more.

Sounds like a win/win... we legally dispose of them and build goodwill with our community Doctors...

Well, the problem started almost immediately when I was asked to pick out the best ones for certain Doctors and then the Doctors wanted me to deliver and in-service their staff...

This effectively put an end to that program...

 

[MossRoad]

This is the same for my workplace. We used to be able to get "carry out" forms for removal of scrap or property, but some people abused it. Items that we used to get to take home included the 250(ish) gallon caged totes (IBCs), 5 gallon buckets, scrap metal, plastic and metal drums, etc. Now we can't even take home empty copier paper boxes. It's a shame to see all of this useful stuff trashed because of the actions of a few, but I do understand the policy, even if I don't like it.

Good luck and take care.

IBC's!! That's what I'm looking for.

 

[MossRoad]

The Hospital is always upgrading equipment and some things simply cannot be tossed unless rendered unusable...

Last year we were upgrading monitors and the Medical Staff was told they could each have one for their office and if any were left over... they could request more.

Sounds like a win/win... we legally dispose of them and build goodwill with our community Doctors...

Well, the problem started almost immediately when I was asked to pick out the best ones for certain Doctors and then the Doctors wanted me to deliver and in-service their staff...

This effectively put an end to that program...

Yeah, we've got some trickle down Trina here... every time a new employee is hired and needs a new computer, she orders herself the biggest baddest PC on the planet, has her old one configured for her assistant, has her assistant's configured for the manager, has the manager's configured for the crew leader and the crew leader's is what the new person gets.... 4th gen junk. And all this for web based apps! :confused2: Glad I'm outa that loop now. :thumbsup: