is it illegal to take someone else's recycleables?

Question

I put my recycleable cans/bottles out in recycle bins for pickup, and occassionally I see these scumy people roam the neighborhood taking recycleables out and "stealing" it for themselves. Is it illegal to do that?

Answer 1

If the bins you are putting them into for pickup are provided to you by a disposal company, then yes, it is illegal because you have chosen to provide that company with your recyclables and thus it belongs to them. The bins have their company name and/or logo on it. They aren't providing those bins for the benefit of public charity to rummage through every week. If it's occasional dumpster diggers, then it's not worth the hassle of hassling with them or guarding the stuff. But if they come regularly and clean you out, I'd wait to put the bins out until shortly before the pickup comes or tell them to please not help themselves. If it's your own bins you're putting out for pickup, then it's harder to enforce this policy.

Answer 2

In my town it is illegal. It's called "scavenging." You can call the police, but I don't know if that is a "priority."

When do you put out your recyclables? We put ours out in the A.M. but that doesn't stop people from walking up and down the streets taking the cans mostly- they can get $ for that.

The other alternative would be to take the recycle ables to the center yourself. That's a big inconvenience.

Perhaps you can call your city's Sanitation & Recycle Center to ask about these scavangers. You probably aren't the only one to have this problem.

Answer 3

In most cities= if you put out your trash= others can take it. However, some cities have laws against going through trash as to not make a mess. It is abandoned property. Someone can walk to your trashcan, remove a bag, and walk on down the street. Same with taking an old chair you sat at the side of the road.

Answer 4

What ever you put out on the curb is still your property. Once the city come and collects the trash it becomes the citys property.

In some cities you are not allowed to put your trash out before gargabe day. If you put your trash out earlier in some places you can be fined.

Answer 5

No. Once you set it out at the curb it is up for grabs. Your intent is obviously not to keep the recyclables for yourself. It is your intent to get rid of them. So, if somebody comes along and takes them, no crime has been committed. It falls under the "res nullus doctrine".

Answer 6

I don't think so, because the police take peoples trash w/out a warrant.

Answer 7

You don't get anything for them do you?

Maybe they take the cans to an aluminum center and get a few cents for them.

Answer 8

if you throw something away it is called a "res nullus" in law, meaning thing with no value. if somebody else has use for it, they can take legally possession of it.

Answer 9

Once you put garbage at the curb, anyone can take it. It's the law.

Answer 10

I don't think its illegal. Maybe it generates food for their kids.