The things people throw away!
By Fleur
@Fleura (29129)
United Kingdom
March 22, 2023 5:45am CST
I am constantly shocked by the things people just chuck out without thinking. I have never understood the ‘throw-away’ society, even though it was what my generation grew up with.
A house round the corner from us has had some building work going on for some time, so they have a skip on the driveway and a constant stream of things going into it. Mostly it has been bits of plasterboard and old carpet, the things you might expect, but yesterday a new-looking lawn scarifier appeared, together with what appeared to be the contents of someone’s jewellery box (bangles, earrings etc).
I took a photo of the garden implement and posted it on Freegle saying I would go and collect it if anyone wanted it. Sure enough someone did so I picked it up this morning on the walk back from school and brought it home. I did knock on the door to ask the householders’ permission but there was no answer so I’m afraid I just took it anyway, along with a pretty tray, a couple of bangles and two perfectly-good pairs of toddler size Wellington boots (no leaks – I washed them out!) which I will be offering shortly.
Another even more surprising thing had appeared this morning – this large tool box which not only looked in decent condition but even appeared to still be full of tools plus bits and bobs. Do they not know how much those things cost?? I posted that on Freegle too and within minutes have been inundated with requests for it. Why would anyone even think of just binning something like that?
Often I feel as though I live in some sort of parallel reality.
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.
14 people like this
14 responses
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
22 Mar 23
When people are done with things, they throw them away. It seems those people don't have time to list things for sale or to give away. They just want them out of their way and gone now. It happens.
It's also possible someone in the house is mad at someone else and you're helping them get rid of the "evidence" that their stuff is being thrown out. 
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
22 Mar 23
@Fleura Maybe... I think I'd talk to them before I gave any more of their stuff away, though. That's just my opinion... I've had lots of married friends break up and start throwing the other person's stuff away. (Granted, when one of them sued the other over stuff that was "missing", the one that threw it out had to pay for it. *shrug*)
2 people like this
@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 23
@DaddyEvil I did knock on the door but no reply. I will try again next time I go past.
2 people like this
@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 23
I guess, but they could at least leave things outside with a 'FREE' sign.
The things are a bit puzzling I have to admit as I know the family that lives there. Not well, but I mean I know who they are. They are a Muslim family, the wife works at the nursery Little One used to attend and the husband works as a taxi driver; they have several youngish children. The children's wellies - yes I can see they would have used those (although I'm surprised they didn't just give them to the nursery as spares) but I never saw the wife wearing lots of jewellery or anyone tending the garden which is pretty unkempt! Maybe they found things left behind by a previous occupant.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Mar 23
Hmm, strange stuff to throw away. A Maybe scenario? He left her for another, she, quite angry threw away his bangle gifts and then the tools he was going to come back to collect.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
22 Mar 23
@Fleura I saw a woman throwing everything her boyfriend owned out a third-floor window while he was downstairs trying to catch laptops and printers... If he hadn't been there, who knows what would have happened to his stuff.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 23
No-one who really wanted those things would leave them in a skip in the pouring rain. But is this an American 'thing' to do? @DaddyEvil suggested something similar. Nothing like that would ever cross my mind.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Mar 23
@Fleura Well, you know how men are.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
22 Mar 23
A lot of people put stuff out in their front yard with a free sign there too. I had a neighbor who would just throw things in the trash. I lived in a 4 plex so when I was ready to have a yard sale I asked the 3 neighbors if they would like to join in. Sure enough the lady that used to toss things in the trash participated with all of us. She was shocked at how much money she made.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 23
When a skip appears it's often more than the hirer that dumps stuff in them
In the past I've chucked stuff in, I wouldn't do it now without asking.
I did a quick bit of research into the legality and, according to my rule of 3, taking from a skip could be seen as theft but the law is a bit grey.
Apparently whatever is in a skip is the property of the person who hired it so could be called theft but is rarely prosecuted.
Personally I'd like anyone to take anything as it leaves me more room.
In the past I've chucked stuff in, I wouldn't do it now without asking.
I did a quick bit of research into the legality and, according to my rule of 3, taking from a skip could be seen as theft but the law is a bit grey.
Apparently whatever is in a skip is the property of the person who hired it so could be called theft but is rarely prosecuted.
Personally I'd like anyone to take anything as it leaves me more room.1 person likes this
@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 23
I did try to ask; I will knock on the door again next time I'm passing. Generally the person who hired the skip doesn't want the stuff in it - that's why they put it there. And as you say they have to pay for it to be taken away, so if they can put more in (because people have taken things out) that's better for them.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 23
@Mike197602 I'm a keen Freegler/ Freecycler, have been since 2003! As I said in my post, if I don't want the useful things I find myself, I offer them on Freegle.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 23
@Fleura have you seen this
EDIT...it takes you to my town on the link I think but they're pretty much in every town in the uk.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85274)
• Bangalore, India
22 Mar 23
Here too I often find people who just throw away things. One of my friends is like that. I am into frugal living and I would like to reuse and recycle everything. I would donate things and throw only when I think they can not be used in anyway.
I often keep getting things from my friend. Some I have used for recycling or art project. And many I have donated.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85274)
• Bangalore, India
29 Mar 23
@Fleura I agree. Also such a rate of consumerism is not good for the planet. People have to be thoughtful.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215403)
• Chile
22 Mar 23
It is a shame how we, human beings, continue polluting our planet. Just imagine that all technology belongs to the "throw away" world. Even hardware gets obsolete and even people who don´t want to waste have to do it.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
23 Mar 23
I appreciate your trying to put them to use by anyone who would be interested.
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Mar 23
Many throw good things away. I always try to donate at least
1 person likes this
@Virtually2021 (827)
• Southend-On-Sea, England
22 Mar 23
Maybe they didn't have time to sort out the items they were throwing away.
1 person likes this
