Salvaging...

[JeeperCreeper]

I can't help but be bothered. I was in the bellingrath subdivision helping a few people I know in there (they got it really bad), and I see this truck riding around picking through the stuff at the road as people are putting it out. He seemed to be favoring mini fridges. While these people are putting their lives by the side of the road, he's trying to make a quick buck off of their misery. How low can you get?

 

[fng]

Times like this, more often then not bring out the best in people, strangers helping one another, after losing everything.
Unfortunately, it also brings out the cockroaches and maggots.

 

[Suburbazine]

How is being a scrapper a maggot? If someone is going to toss valuable copper or repairable appliances out on the road (regardless of the reason) I see no ill will in a scrapper going by and hitting every single trash pile to make a buck. It's not like he is taking advantage of anyone except the opportunity to make money doing what he already does.

 

[noob]

I'm going to have to agree with suburbazine, Though it may not be the best time for those affected, if the items are indeed in the "trash" pile on the curb, it's better than someone breaking into a home to take these items. And it's better to repurpose an item, or even find it a new home for a cheaper price, than wasting money and space in a dump somewhere.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

My issue is a moral dilemma of helping people take their belongings out of their house and my brother comes in and said "someone already got the mini-fridge" while I'm inside cutting sheetrock and bagging insulation. I also saw him grab a few more on my way out. While the homeowners are there I just see as a sign of disrespect. I just think it's pretty heartless. He could be being constructive trying to help people.

Edit: I put things out by the road all the time and expect it to be gone within a few hours and have no problem with it, but this I don't agree with.

 

[CatCam]

I wonder if he is reclaiming the refrigerant.........okay, I'm sure the ozone hole just got bigger!

 

[Redd508]

My issue is a moral dilemma of helping people take their belongings out of their house and my brother comes in and said "someone already got the mini-fridge" while I'm inside cutting sheetrock and bagging insulation. I also saw him grab a few more on my way out. While the homeowners are there I just see as a sign of disrespect. I just think it's pretty heartless. He could be being constructive trying to help people.

Edit: I put things out by the road all the time and expect it to be gone within a few hours and have no problem with it, but this I don't agree with.

It sounds more like an emotional issue. Not to sound insensitive, belongings get cleaned up to be reused. Trash goes to the road. I helped my dad clean out after a flood and anything that could be salvaged was. If not it was disposed of. If someone can use what you discard they are not wrong for picking it up. Walking in and asking for stuff is disrespectful. Try to see past the emotion of your friends bad situation.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

It sounds more like an emotional issue. Not to sound insensitive, belongings get cleaned up to be reused. Trash goes to the road. I helped my dad clean out after a flood and anything that could be salvaged was. If not it was disposed of. If someone can use what you discard they are not wrong for picking it up. Walking in and asking for stuff is disrespectful. Try to see past the emotion of your friends bad situation.

It is an emotional issue, and I never said it was wrong. I just think it's tacky as all hell while the homeowner is present. I am a sentimental person as well so it's probably harder for me to watch than it is for others.

 

[VeedUp]

When we cleaned out my Aunt's house after Issac I was glad someone stopped and took some of the stuff, gave us more room for when the cabinets went out, then someone picked them up before the next day.

 

[Hermit]

When I put something at the curb, I'm done with it.
I'm always glad if somebody picks it up.

 

[Ellis1958]

Having been on the other end when my house got crushed in Gustav I can say I didn't mind it a bit when the salvagers came by. I had insurance and all of it was being replaced. If someone could get some use out of it even it's just salvaging the copper, then I'm cool with it, and power to the guy trying to make a buck to make ends meet. Rather see that than standing in line with his hand out for some gummit giveaway program.

I've got the attitude that if it's at the curb it's free game. Drug home a couple things myself, fixed them up, and put them to use.

It's been a game around here after Christmas when the tree is put to the curb. How long will it last till it's picked up to be taken to the camp to help slow coastal erosion? Record is 45 minutes.

 

[John_]

Get used to it. I got flooded August 2012 Hurricane Isaac in Laplace. Pickers were a daily thing. I had no problem with it, other than the ones ripping open my bags, spreading my junk everywhere and making a mess! A couple calls to the St John Sheriff's office cured that. One occurrence was three black ladies tearing open my neighbor's bags a few houses down picking and making a mess of it. The SJSO didn't play around, they understood what was going on.

I didn't have a problem with anyone taking whatever we piled on the side of the road. It was amazing really. People picking clothes, flooded appliances, any copper wire period. Its gonna happen. You will have to run off a few people making a mess on your yard.

At one time, I sat on my front porch with my SKS across my lap......that seemed to stop all the ******** for a while

 

[NOLASHOOTER]

I think you just may too close to it right now. The wound may be too fresh. I went through Katrina and was fine when the scrapper took stuff. Like was said above it made room on the curb to put more stuff out. Also, you never know how long it will take for the city to remove the trash so if the scrappers are taking stuff be glad it is going quickly. It could take a while before it gets picked up by other means. I would be annoyed if there were people making a mess by doing it but if they are just taking mini fridges and such then let them. It certainly won't make you feel better if in 2 weeks the pile is still there. At least if the scrappers take it quickly it is gone.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

You guys actually gave me a different perspective and made sense of it, and put my mind at ease. I do see the benefit of it now. Was just hard to watch yesterday, but I'll view it differently now.

 

[bigtattoo79]

I see no problem with scrapers picking up curbside.

This guy stops by my work one day and ask for the scrap I put by the road and while talking to him he says "I will do anything I can to not live on the system or break the law". I took him outside and showed him a spot away from the road that I will start putting scrap so he can grab it any time without asking. He's been getting scrap out that pile for 5 or 6 years super nice guy, puts our trash cans out if we forget. Knowing this guy the little that I do no way would I expect him to donate time when he can't hardly afford food.

 

[Hattrick 22]

Having been on the other end when my house got crushed in Gustav I can say I didn't mind it a bit when the salvagers came by. I had insurance and all of it was being replaced. If someone could get some use out of it even it's just salvaging the copper, then I'm cool with it, and power to the guy trying to make a buck to make ends meet. Rather see that than standing in line with his hand out for some gummit giveaway program.

I've got the attitude that if it's at the curb it's free game. Drug home a couple things myself, fixed them up, and put them to use.

It's been a game around here after Christmas when the tree is put to the curb. How long will it last till it's picked up to be taken to the camp to help slow coastal erosion? Record is 45 minutes.

I've picked up a tree or two myself to make sacalait fishing spots more appealing to sacalait...

 

[JeeperCreeper]

no way would I expect him to donate time when he can't hardly afford food.

He was in a way nicer truck than mine with a costa sticker on the back glass. It didn't look like he was hurting.

I have no problem with scrapping either, My point was just be mindful that these people just went through a tragedy and may be bothered watching people pick through their stuff.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I've picked up a tree or two myself to make sacalait fishing spots more appealing to sacalait...

I've loaded down trailers with trees for this reason. Do it every couple of years!

 

[bigtattoo79]

He was in a way nicer truck than mine with a costa sticker on the back glass. It didn't look like he was hurting.

I have no problem with scrapping either, My point was just be mindful that these people just went through a tragedy and may be bothered watching people pick through their stuff.

My post was not about the guy at y'alls location.

But I would feel much better watching a dude in a nice truck pick though my stuff than a garbage truck smashing it with a compactor while pulling away.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

My post was not about the guy at y'alls location.

But I would feel much better watching a dude in a nice truck pick though my stuff than a garbage truck smashing it with a compactor while pulling away.

I know what the typical scrapper looks like that does it for a living. My guy did not fit that picture.

Seems like there's not a sentimental one of you in the bunch. For some people it's not just "stuff", it's memories. I think a little tact goes a long way in a situation like this.