Where I live, people will often put a sign out that says "free stuff", because according to our town laws, once you put something at the curb for pickup, it belongs to the town. Not that they bother to enforce it, but they could.
Quoting: INK3 Wow, you know times are tough in the USA when municipalities begin fighting with bums over who has first dibs on the trash.
I find the idea that one could be accused of stealing for taking an item that has already been discarded in the garbage to be hilarious.
I find the intense and serious debate on this thread over such a hilarious concept as who holds the deed on the trash to be even funnier.
Sheesh, when I found an elderly man rummaging through my trash for aluminum cans, I began putting my soda cans out there in a separate bag for him so that he would have easier and more sanitary access to them. The thought, "That bandit is stealing my precious priceless garbage," never once occurred to me. LOL!
Come on, guys. Lighten up. It's just trash. I cannot think of a more petty thing to squabble over.
Now I'm sure someone will respond to me with a severe and harsh "it's the law... zero tolerance... sieg heil to the garbage Fuhrers..." And my response will be Bwaahaha!
Forgive me for not being able to take this debate seriously at all.
