Confessions of a Dumpster Diver

[jaggerwild]

In the states, if it's on the curb it will get taken. If you wish to dispose of it, you need to pay to have it removed in NY. Say like an old big tube TV, you pay to have it haled away.

 

[tabascosauz]

If an employee or student decides to throw out an otherwise functioning laptop with a broken hard drive, the dumpster diver should not be blamed for breaching the institution or company's confidentiality regulations (note the use of the word should, as I have no time to go look up specific laws regarding dumpster diving in his jurisdiction). The dumpster diver is not bound by a contract, as he is neither employed nor enrolled. When the student (let's just call this imaginary guy a student for the sake of simplicity) decides to toss the laptop without securely erasing the data on it, he has simultaneously committed a breach of contract in two different ways:

1) he has failed to inform the institution and arrange / allow for others to arrange for repairs, replacement or disposal; the student has therefore failed to reasonably care for a device that is property of the institution
2) he has also failed to protect the institution's confidential data, to a reasonable extent.

Nowhere in these conditions is it implied that the dumpster diver should face disciplinary action for his behaviour; it is utterly ridiculous to suggest such a thing, as the dumpster diver was never in any sort of relationship with the institution in the first place. He has not broken any laws either. That is, unless state/federal laws state that all trash is property of the lot's owner.

Most places, save for government agencies and large corporations, will not be wasting resources and the time to track down the whereabouts of the neglected laptop and have it returned. Instead, the student would most likely face severe penalties, or perhaps expulsion from his place of study, for failing to adhere to the rules set out in the agreements that he inevitably accepted when he enrolled at the school.

Of course, it never is this dramatic. Most people aren't part of a large company or school and aren't stupid enough to toss out storage that harbours important data. I don't see why it's a bad thing to be making a small, positive difference in some else's life. The waste often goes to actual waste instead of being recycled and slowly kills the poor men, women and children who manually process it in some third-world country.

 

[Freezer]

In the states, if it's on the curb it will get taken. If you wish to dispose of it, you need to pay to have it removed in NY. Say like an old big tube TV, you pay to have it haled away.

Perhaps, but in most cities it's illegal, even if it's on the curb or the middle of the street.

That's NY and it's totally reared anyway.

 

[erocker]

No!
My moral standards don't go that low.
While helping one kid down the road may make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I think of the bigger picture and entire families could end up below the poverty line due to unemployment because of inconsiderate people.
Theft is still theft, doesn't matter how you dress it.

It's not theft no matter how you portray it to be.

 

[dorsetknob]

Its Theft if its intentionally depriving the owner of his property
If the Property owner deliberately and with forethought ABANDONS HIS PROPERTY then its not Theft (Dumping into an unsecured Skip or Dumpster or on the roadside is the deliberate ABANDONMENT OF PROPERTY).


Information supplied by Shyster and Wescrewyou Attorney's at Law

 

[silentbogo]

Crap... Now we have a dedicated thread about property rights and legality of dumpster diving

Now, stop yelling and get back to work! I wanna see who else is recovering HW from the bin, so we can start a TPU Dumpster Diving Club.

 

[Ahhzz]

Its Theft if its intentionally depriving the owner of his property
If the Property owner deliberately and with forethought ABANDONS HIS PROPERTY then its not Theft (Dumping into an unsecured Skip or Dumpster or on the roadside is the deliberate ABANDONMENT OF PROPERTY).


Information supplied by Shyster and Wescrewyou Attorney's at Law

I get my legal information from Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe, thank you very much.

 

[Devon68]

I will just leave this here since it's kind of on topic.

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

I am not sure about the legality of taking stuff from the thrash, I find it absurd to consider that stealing. In my the place I live taking things from the thrash is a livelihood for some old folks here. Things such as metal cans, cupboards, waste paper and old electronics. They make money of those things which would have ended up in landfill or being waste fully burned when it collected by rubbish company.

So if you gonna go as far as saying it is stealing so it applies to every single types of item too? Occasional there food too in the thrash that can be eaten too.

 

[Solaris17]

I am not sure about the legality of taking stuff from the thrash, I find it absurd to consider that stealing. In my the place I live taking things from the thrash is a livelihood for some old folks here. Things such as metal cans, cupboards, waste paper and old electronics. They make money of those things which would have ended up in landfill or being waste fully burned when it collected by rubbish company.

So if you gonna go as far as saying it is stealing so it applies to every single types of item too?

dont you steal my empty soda can I left on the side of the road have this man arrested!

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

dont you steal my empty soda can I left on the side of the road have this man arrested!

I am pretty surprised you are not fined for littering

 

[Solaris17]

I am pretty surprised you are not fined for littering

and with that id like to mention that "electronics" littering IE: Putting it in a dumpster and not bringing it to a electrical recycle center (Pay to dump) will net you a fine almost 3x that of littering in my city which is about 3-500USD.

I find this thread amusing. I cant believe the shallow judgment calls against the OP or anyone that does this. I wish my world was as cut and dry as these peoples.

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

and with that id like to mention that "electronics" littering IE: Putting it in a dumpster and not bringing it to a electrical recycle center (Pay to dump) will net you a fine almost 3x that of littering in my city which is about 3-500USD.

I find this thread amusing. I cant believe the shallow judgment calls against the OP or anyone that does this. I wish my world was as cut and dry as these peoples.

Oh now that you said it electronic waste have a proper way to be disposed of. Ethics is never ever black and white, appealing to authority to say something is right or wrong is not a good way to deal with things.

Looking at the benefits that OP have given to environment and society, he is doing a good job. E-waste being shipped to third world countries is a major problem for the people health in those countries where the waste are burned trying to extract the little gold in the electronics, and add to to fact the toxic fumes released to the environment after burning. All the things OP got is perfectly usable technology that take minor fixes to be used again. It is much better than just buying a new one in our current society of planned obsolescence. A lot of good old tech that can use for teaching of electronics. I am always fascinated by "old" electronics that can used for learning.

Reusing of old items should be encouraged rather just dumping it and have it collecting in landfills. We have to much wasted produced for us human kinds.

 

[dorsetknob]

Last Job i had before i became a carer for my father was indirectly obtained by dumpster diving /trash resurecting
My brother works for the local recycling yard (Scrap yard )
he use to let me know when they had a delivery of scrapped Pc Parts from the local repair Factory.
Often i used to go through the dumped parts for usefull parts
ended up building and upgrading many Pc's for friends ect
when a job there came up ( at the repair shop )
I took in 4 to 6 refurbished and repaired laptops / desk tops for the interview as examples of my work

( caused a rumpas in the background as it proved that the existing Techs were not doing their jobs and dumping kit that was repairable )

shortend story Got the job stayed there untill illness with my father required me to quit to care for him Full time ( 24/7 ).

 

[AsRock]

Dumpster diving is legal in the United States except where prohibited by local regulation. According to a 1988 Supreme Court Ruling (California vs. Greenwood)

If it can be access by the public and not locked

So taking stuff out of the trash is inconsiderate? That's a stretch

I was thinking just the same, been doing it for many years now and as long as you don't get the stuff on the floor your golden.

Was only a few weeks ago i watched a Ford F150 truck pull up to a dumpster and salvaged what looked like paint cans and a few window frames and such while a police car passed by.

Never been a issue here in the US for the passed 14 years i have been here, how ever in the UK you have to be more careful about it but generally people don't give a dam.

Some people around here will even put notices on them too so some one finds a new home for some thing, as i said as long as you don't make a mess and all you are golden.

And those who frown up on it can shove their head up there asses.

 

[JunkBear]

You aren't a relative of junkbear by any chance are you? I could have sworn this was going to be one of his threads.

No we are not related but we seem to have the same ecology minding and helping others.

 

[AsRock]

I did miss one part out here and that putting trash out side of your house in this part of PA when it fits you is against the law. Ours at this time is Monday after 4PM if you do it sooner you could get fined. It's 500$ littering here.
And as i said before a lot of people will mark their rubbish some even let you know whats wrong with it.

Just just made me think of the bar which is right behind up were the owner had a issue with a guy who collected can's out of there trash. I asked them about it and said the problem was not him going though the trash but not cleaning the mess up after. See the bar owner knows full well is bin being to full would mean extra charges for a larger bin.

In fact i wish they would enforce it more, how ever it's easier to pay some one to pick it up ( weekly here ) than it is to pay some one to fine some one for littering.

They would make so much money of people who casually drop shit if they could give over than the police authority to do so. How ever i am sure most would say it was not their trash and proving that it was would actually cost more. Should be possible as traffic wardens are possible.

When i was living in the UK it's worse than it is here in this part of the US but people do it. I guess some were like downtown your more likely to get busted for it as the chances are that there is a camera to prove it.

Now dumper diving in a city probably is against the rules as some people don't put shit back that don't want. Probably other reasons to like needles and so forth, and tell you the truth i would not want to do it in a City \ downtown to many health risks.

I will just leave this here since it's kind of on topic.

I was thinking he should of unplugged the HDD to if it posts further and checked the jumper setting on the HDD just in case.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Just saw this click bait and thought.....TPU dumpster divers need to see this revolutionary way to clean computer parts that Logitech HATES!!

 

[Silvertigo]

To clean my dumpster findings I use a high pressure hose, gets rid of all the maggots really well.

 

[Jetster]

Some of my best childhood memories were going thru department store dumpsters and getting old display cases. Putting them in my room and displaying other cool stuff I found. Mom just loved it

 

[Freezer]

I'd be more concerned about the amount of bacteria, than the maggots.

 

[AsRock]

I'd be more concerned about the amount of bacteria, than the maggots.

A dumpster diver knows how without those kind of issue's. basically common sense goes a long way.

 

[Silvertigo]

Was only kidding about the maggots

The E-waste where I scrounge about does not have household rubbish amongst it thankfully.

Basically electronic stuff all piled together.

Items that can be found are desktops, laptops, monitors, printers, CB radios, mobile phones, routers/modems,

varied cables, televisions, and house-hold appliances.

I put together yesterday a 775 set-up completely sourced from the trash heap and its now happily

crunching away for the TPU WCG team !

Monitor I`m using is from the trash as well, only the USB modem is originally mine.

 

[JunkBear]

Was only kidding about the maggots

The E-waste where I scrounge about does not have household rubbish amongst it thankfully.

Basically electronic stuff all piled together.

Items that can be found are desktops, laptops, monitors, printers, CB radios, mobile phones, routers/modems,

varied cables, televisions, and house-hold appliances.

I put together yesterday a 775 set-up completely sourced from the trash heap and its now happily

crunching away for the TPU WCG team !

I should be trying to do crunching for first time ever but the only computer i have is a 940 single core 2.2 with 2 gigs and a small 80 gigs ide.

 

[Silvertigo]

only computer i have is a 940 single core 2.2 with 2 gigs

I have a heap of parts I`d give to you if I wasn`t on the other side of the planet