I am a couponer, yes I bring my coupon binder with me everywhere. I save our big family quite a bit of money with my coupons. I am not a hoarder who buys 50 bottles of mustard. I buy things that my family uses and if it's good deal I stock up.
When I logged on my computer Yahoo news caught my eye with "New Coupon Rules That Can Get You Arrested". I clicked on the tab to find out more.
What are you serious I can get arrested for taking the coupons from my neighbors recycling bins? Why it's garbage, it's awaiting to be picked up and hey after all I am recycling by using them aren't I?
This is what the article on Yahoo said:
Dumpster and recycling-bin diving: "The CIC, for reasons of safety, strongly recommends that no one enter into dumpsters." I think it's safe to say that people willing to brave a giant trash receptacle probably aren't concerned with safety. At the same time, the CIC correctly points out that diving into a dumpster on private land can get you arrested for trespassing, and that removing recyclables can get you arrested for theft. The same goes for removing recyclables from curbside recycling bins, also known as "scavenging."
How am I trespassing with the bins are at the foot of their driveway? Give me a break! shouldn't the law be reinforcing hanus crimes instead of moms just wanted to provide for their families and save money?
Here are some I can understand being arrested for:
Photocopying coupons. This is also a type of counterfeiting.
Stealing newspapers: Taking something that isn't yours is theft.
We live in a development with over 800 homes, sometimes we will take a walk the night before and I will grab coupons in recycle bins that homeowners didn't want so how is that an action to get arrested?
That's crazy! One person's trash is another person's treasure so how is that stealing?
While I don't think that dumpster diving laws apply specifically to people searching for coupons, it is silly, but that show has made it difficult for honest couponers!
ReplyDeleteI agree - go after the real criminals, like say the same executives who cry poverty over losing money but still take bonuses?
ReplyDeleteI live in an apartment complex, so I've never had the chance to do that, but it certainly shouldn't be illegal!
ReplyDeleteI don't see how it could be considered stealing. Once you throw something out the police can take it without a warrant; why couldn't your neighbor?
ReplyDeleteI agree about the recycling bins!
ReplyDeleteI think it should be ok, however the one thing about digging in others garbage is that there are people who do it to steal identities. It may be hard to tell the reason someone is doing it. If they get questioned and show coupons only it should be ok.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really more about dumpsters than recycling buckets but technically it's private property anyway especially if it's on their property. I can't imagine anyone would care but you can get around the whole thing by simply asking for permission.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree 100% -- However since you carry your binder like I do Im sure the looks you get are humorous like the ones I get ;)
ReplyDeleteIf your muni recycles and provides recycling bins for your use, they get money for those items and that's the basis for "theft".
ReplyDeleteSo if the bin was full of pop cans, would you be aghast to see someone coming by with their truck and emptying the bucket into their truck bed? Maybe! That person just "stole" probably 8 cents from their municipality because the muni then didn't get the benefit of what they would have earned for turning those pop cans in.
Are homeowners putting that out with the idea that their items are going to be picked up by a recycling truck? Probably. So seeing someone root through their trash might seem a bit off-putting in that respect.
Not saying it's not insane, but just trying to explain how they might come to the idea it was theft.
As weird as it may sound, it might just be easier to ask them if they'd save them for you or, in the alternative, if it is OK for you to snag them out.
Your recycler processes and resells the item in the recycling bin. When you put it at the curb, it becomes the property of the recycler (per the statements we received from the county when they enacted new trash service and code requirements). Any removal at that point becomes theft. Yay for government. (sarcasm)
ReplyDeleteThats just ridiculous! I always go to my Post office and dig in the recycle bins, I guess I cant now....
ReplyDeletethat's pretyy crazy....however my dad's identity was stolen a few yrs ago and it took forever to straighten everything out so we're extra cautious about shredding everything w/ our name/info on it...so i don't like the thought of others going through my bins. that being said i could care less if someone wanted my tossed coupons! :) i don't mind that at all.
ReplyDeleteannae07 at aol dot com
the problem is if someone cute their hand on an open can in your recycling bin they will probably turn around and try to sue you or something, same with getting hurt in a dumpster. it's the american way right? sad but true. plus neighbours may not want you looking in their garbage. maybe they would rather you didn't see they had a subscription to playboy or something ya know? people should have the right to privacy. It's probably a better policy to just ask neighbours if you can have them instead of peeking through their garbage.
ReplyDeleteHope Everyone learns a lesson from the above experience.
ReplyDeleteReally? There aren't bigger criminals in the world? Lets arrest the couponers who are technically recycling!?!? Good grief! I've seen people "steal" much bigger things from my own trash!
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend delivers the newspaper so I get 2 papers for free. I always advise asking people to save the coupons for people instead of people going through anything and taking them. I would hate to see someone whose just trying to save money get in trouble versus the people who take saving money way to far. We've had other newspaper carriers take and keep coupons, more than a whole bundle, and that's grounds for termination. When my boyfriend is sort a bundle of comics and he can't pick them up from where he receives the papers because someone else took them. It sets me off. But that's a completely different subject :)
ReplyDeleteThis is hilarious
ReplyDeleteHmm the curbside stuff should be fair game per abandonment laws... Same reason cops don't need a warrant to search it. Going on private land is different.
ReplyDelete