quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:

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Originally posted by GE Fan:
Perplexed: are you an importer-exporter?

I’m in the steel business and buy/sell globally.

I was kidding...it was a Seinfeld reference.

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Originally posted by GE Fan:

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Originally posted by perplexed:

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:
Perplexed: are you an importer-exporter?

I’m in the steel business and buy/sell globally.

I was kidding...it was a Seinfeld reference.

Remember when I said you're not funny? Well...

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Originally posted by GE Fan:
Perplexed: are you an importer-exporter?

Was that Vandalay Industries, or Enterprises?

Fan has an esoteric sense of humor.

I was going to post last night but I was too tired from trolling for trash and watching the trollers.

But, I too was pleased at the amount of garbage that won't we headed to a landfill. There must be some money in all that metal because that is what I primarily saw the pick ups taking.

I forgot who posted the memories, but I fondly recall those first big trash days. My kids had a blast and I never laughed so hard. If we didn't want what they dragged home we placed it on the curb and it was promptly picked up.

Yesterday I saw a 11-ish year old boy on a bike pulling a plastic toboggan filled with 'stuff'. I smiled as I saw him peddling away. He couldn't of been happier!

Don't get me wrong, I am all for recycling. I suggest that you do it year round instead of every other year.

We put stuff curbside all the time and it always disappears.
For example we had the original stove from our 1950's ranch in the basement. We finally hauled that big mother to the curb this past February and Jose and Jesus came by and picked that thing up. They threw it into the back of their truck like it was nothing. The stove wasn't outside for more than 10 hours.

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Originally posted by yigo92:
We put stuff curbside all the time and it always disappears.
For example we had the original stove from our 1950's ranch in the basement. We finally hauled that big mother to the curb this past February and Jose and Jesus came by and picked that thing up. They threw it into the back of their truck like it was nothing. The stove wasn't outside for more than 10 hours.

I concur. This is continuous. Save your stickers until morning. It will be gone.

I think if you live on a more visible street, it's far more likely your things will get picked up....

Cutting across Hawthorne on Park yesterday, we had to come to an abrupt stop as a TV on a wheeled desk chair came careening down the sidewalk, crossed the street, and continued until its ultimate demise down by Lenox. I was hypnotized. It was like watching Letterman drop stuff off the roof. 3 young men, fighting the giggles attempted to run before they noticed me applauding their efforts. Their look of pride of accomplishment will linger with me for a while.

Where would we be without stories like this.

I also think the PADS patrons are resting more comfortably outside the CBD confines this week. Saw a pretty nicely beaten up leather couch on the curb...naptime?

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Originally posted by yigo92:
Don't get me wrong, I am all for recycling. I suggest that you do it year round instead of every other year.

We put stuff curbside all the time and it always disappears.
For example we had the original stove from our 1950's ranch in the basement. We finally hauled that big mother to the curb this past February and Jose and Jesus came by and picked that thing up. They threw it into the back of their truck like it was nothing. The stove wasn't outside for more than 10 hours.

Interesting. Right around that time, friends of ours whose daughter is in the band at West, with our son, came home from a long weekend to find that "someone" - band kids, we think - had played a prank on them. The prank consisted of laying some old carpet remnant on their front porch and then placing an old stove and some other kitcheny items on it.

They gave the kids a 10 for originality of prank, but a 0 on ease of removal (they had to haul the stove out to the curb themselves). They figured the kids had picked up an old stove someone had left out at the curb right before trash day....hmmm....

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Originally posted by GEmom2:

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Originally posted by GE Fan:
Perplexed: are you an importer-exporter?

Was that Vandalay Industries, or Enterprises?

Fan has an esoteric sense of humor.

"Vandelay Industries, Vandelay Industries, Vandelay Industries, Vandelay Industries"

** As George falls to the ground with his pants around his ankles **

Now I do think that's funny.

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Originally posted by GEmom2:
Now I do think that's funny.

What...Vandelay Industries, or the fact that FAN thinks about George with his pants around his ankles.

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Originally posted by Amy:
I think if you live on a more visible street, it's far more likely your things will get picked up....

Yep - hit the nail on the head. I believe that's probably why our stuff (large things) are gone.

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Originally posted by scribbler:


Interesting. Right around that time, friends of ours whose daughter is in the band at West, with our son, came home from a long weekend to find that "someone" - band kids, we think - had played a prank on them. The prank consisted of laying some old carpet remnant on their front porch and then placing an old stove and some other kitcheny items on it.

They gave the kids a 10 for originality of prank, but a 0 on ease of removal (they had to haul the stove out to the curb themselves). They figured the kids had picked up an old stove someone had left out at the curb right before trash day....hmmm....

That's a funny thing- Very good I'll have to remember that.
My neighbor several years back had an oven either thrown, fell out or put on his lawn, can't figure what happened, loaded with new, still in date Brownberry Bread, like 20 loafs strewn about his front lawn around 10 or 11 PM. I believe it made a dent in his lawn. 2 odd things: it was the time of our food fest-not the big throwout weekend, so maybe theives from the fest?? 2nd - I didn't hear it and I have ears like my poodle in my neighborhood. Prank? A dare? Vindictive old girlfriend (that cooks?) don't know...I agree-it was 0 on ease of removal. After the 3 of us stopped laughing long enough, (neighbor and my husband & I) the guys grabed the stove and I picked up all the bread.

Arten has a green "Vandelay Industries" shirt. It's the name of the softball team that his company sponsors.

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Originally posted by lupechennel:If I do put a pile or large item out, it's usually gone by Monday. We don't put our stickers on until we literally see the garbage truck approaching.

Yup, I follow this advice as well. Someone snagged my old water heater last spring...

Kidding ourselves if we think the items picked from these piles won't be headed for landfills. Eventually they will, but not just now.

Instead of the two lawnmowers being put out on the curb, Mrs'58 took them to a dedicated recycling event that took small engine devices. Also, the 5 old TV's will be hauled to a special electronics recycler, hopefully soon. Not only will that delay or skip the landfill issue, the most toxic components such as mercury won't be added to a landfill or rivers. Or am I also kidding myself with this plan?

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Originally posted by GESince1958:
Not only will that delay or skip the landfill issue, the most toxic components such as mercury won't be added to a landfill or rivers. Or am I also kidding myself with this plan?

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More than 50 percent of our recycled computers are shipped overseas, where their toxic components are polluting poor communities. Meanwhile, U.S. laws are a mess, and industry and Congress are resisting efforts to stem "the effluent of the affluent."

My guess is that with commodities prices through the roof the percentage of our precious metals filled computers recycled overseas is now much, much higher.

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Still curious to know how a computer owned by Wisconsin's Wauwatosa School District ended up in Lagos, I tracked down the office, SWAP (Surplus With a Purpose), that handles used computers for Wisconsin school districts. Tim Sell, SWAP's business manager, tells me that SWAP -- part of the University of Wisconsin -- accounts for everything it handles. He says equipment not refurbished for donations or placed in state offices goes to the Wisconsin State Corrections Department's computer recycling facilities, which refurbish and recycle used computers.

But he bemoans the legal loopholes that make e-scrap so hard to track. "Recyclers lie to us," he says

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Originally posted by GESince1958:
Kidding ourselves if we think the items picked from these piles won't be headed for landfills. Eventually they will, but not just now.

Instead of the two lawnmowers being put out on the curb, Mrs'58 took them to a dedicated recycling event that took small engine devices. Also, the 5 old TV's will be hauled to a special electronics recycler, hopefully soon. Not only will that delay or skip the landfill issue, the most toxic components such as mercury won't be added to a landfill or rivers. Or am I also kidding myself with this plan?

Wheaton had the electronics recycling last week. That's where our 'toys' went. I didn't think you could throw out computer items and toxic or construction waste stuff like paint at our event. Was I wrong? (I told the neighbor no) Could you throw that stuff out? I know COD does have from time to time electronics recycling and old paint drop off.