Years ago, when Jefferson City started its spring cleanup, it came with what was likely an unintended consequence.
The annual cleanup lets residents dispose of items typically too large to put in trash bins. Allied Waste Services, the city's trash-hauler, is picking up furniture, mattresses, microwaves, toilets and other bulky items this week for the city's west side. It will do the same for the east side, starting 5 a.m. next Monday.
The city's contract with Allied specifies that they will pick up the items placed on curbs and dispose of them in their landfill. But as it turns out, Allied doesn't have to pick up all of the items. Curbside scavengers have turned the two-week cleanup into a small cottage industry, routinely patrolling neighborhoods in search of items with value.
The cleanup proves the old saying: One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Some of the items are broken; others are in working order. We've seen everything from baseball card collections to computers to sets of golf clubs. Just a couple days ago, a lawn mower that was put on the curb with a "free" sign was gone within 15 minutes.
The city allows the practice, and we think that's a good thing.
People who want to get rid of items can do so, while people who have a need for the items can pick them up at no charge. Meanwhile, the exchange of items reduces the waste stream into the landfill. With Earth Day fast approaching, what better way to recycle?
It's not perfect, however. Everyone needs to be respectful, and we encourage people looking for their next "treasure" to follow these simple guidelines:
Before you take something, be sure it's being put to the curb as part of the city's spring cleanup. Just because that tricycle in the driveway is close to the curb doesn't mean that it's fair game. If you're not sure, don't take it.
Be courteous, and try to make your trek through neighborhoods as smooth as possible for residents. Don't stop in traffic lanes or block drives; if you're driving slowly to scope out items, let other motorists pass you; and avoid curbside scavenging late at night, when people are sleeping.
Don't take things you don't need. If you suspect someone else has a greater need, leave the item for them. And please don't damage working items for small amounts of profit. We've seen people strip wires from working computer monitors, for example, just to make a few cents from the copper.
If you go through a pile of stuff to get to something, be sure to leave the other items where they were. Don't scatter everything around it.
All these tips amount to a simple rule: Be respectful. That's the key to keeping the program a win-win for everyone involved.