Recycling Problem

[Wanabee FTer]

Right now I'm staying at a park that has a trash bin and a recycle bin. I usually try to do my part when it comes to recycling, so I separate my refuse best as possible and throw it out. Problem is, sometimes I come back with items from the recycle bin. Most of the snow birds are gone now and I have noticed they like to lighten their load before leaving.
A couple of weeks ago I found a near new RV mat sitting out in front of the recycle bin. I brought it back and hosed it down, it was just a little bit dirty and it cleaned up like new Great, that was an item on my list that I now don't need to buy. All I need are some stakes to secure it to the ground so I put that on my list to pickup next time I go to the sporting goods store. A week later I found a whole box of stakes in a nice plastic container. Wow, guess I can cross that off my list.
Today I needed to put a few thing in my basement and temporarily put them in a cardboard box. Went to empty the trash tonight and found 3 nice large plastic storage bins with lids.
I have never really been one to dumpster dive, so I will refrain from calling it that. I just see things I can use when I take out the trash.
Anybody else have a problem passing up useable items that have been discarded by others?

[SSteve]

Nope, no problem at all.

I've dropped off and collected things AT the dumpster. AT is the operative word. It would be a shame to put something in the dumpster that someone might use. It beats pedaling (sic) your goods door to door.

Steve

[NLOVNIT]

How's that saying go?...One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Lori-

[rmmpe]

Good for you
You're at both ends of the recycling spectrum.

[Senior Chief]

You are doing a virtuous, frugal action by pulling useable items out of the waste stream.

Some folks live by an "only NEW is good enough for me" philosophy, but I always figured I only had a highly UNCERTAIN amount of time and a small allotment of resources on this earth. Working more hours or spending less time with family so we could purchase "new" or "high fashion" or "this years model" did not seem like the best bargain to us.

Fortunately both of us were raised in frugal families, so making do, buying used, (even dump-picking or dumpster-diving) repairing and doing without were considered normal daily virtues, and not a symptom of poverty or cheapness.

[bldrbob]

Met a camper with a coleman roadtrip grill that she had rescued from a dumpster.got my free standing screen room from next to a dumpster.Wife won't let me go to the dump cause I bring more back than I leave.

[NITEHAWK]

While camped at the Foretravel Plant in Nac, TX I learned that there is a policy of: "If you don't want a usable item due to upgrading (newer coach) or requirements in equipment you can leave the no-longer-needed item in the washhouse for someone that might have a use for it." This, just so useful items are not thrown into dumpsters. Unspoken policy but very effective and cognizant of minimizing waste.

[W4MBG]

i saw a power cord laying on top of the typical household goods in a dumpster. i started pulling on it. and pulling. and pulling. kinda like fishing! and then up came a sony surround sound receiver! brought it home, cleaned it off, plugged it in. works fine!

[Cherylv]

You had me at "I take out the trash" Your DW is a lucky gal

[pwf16129]

looks like the old adage use it up, wear it out or do with out is alive and well at least with some folks