Sounds like fertile ground for Freecycling. I absolutely agree with your sentiment. It's shameful to see so much stuff going to landfill.
Similar wandering in my neighbourhood isn't nearly so bountiful, but we have had a lot of bicycles in various states of disrepair put out of late. (I have all the spare parts I can handle already.) The local scrappers grab those before the municipal collection guys come around. Of course, this doesn't count toward the official waste diversion statistics. We have a local entrepreneur who is now recycling old (non-functional) computer parts. He has to charge about 65 cents a pound to cover his operational costs. So, most of this stuff goes to landfill rather than being environmentally managed. Darryl "AltEnergyNetwork" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi all, > > It is simply amazing/disgraceful how much we waste as a society and the amount > of > unnecessary garbage that we generate going into landfills. > If all the resources of manufacturing, materials and energy wasted > on making these products in the first place is calculated...then many times > only to be > thrown away is simply criminal. > > Here is a partial list from an informal study we did on what people throw out > and of what was salvaged simply by evening walks with some friends > and my dog over the past year on the night > before trash day. Call it dumpster diving if you want except > there are no dumpsters and it's all piled right by the curb. > I make no apologies for picking up something I can > use for free, recycles it and keeps it out of the dump. > > Area was a mixed resident working/middle class are of approx 10 square blocks. > Nothing scientific but it sure was interesting. > > > 8 persian style tapestry carpets > all 10ftx15ft, clean, no stains, no fraying, no pet pee, and in perfect > condition. > > 16 microwave ovens, all clean, various sizes, all perfect working > condition > 1 micro still scealed in factory plastic. (Who throws out a brand new > microwave?) > I know, I know, some people have concerns about microwave ovens but still. > > 8 multi disc cd sound systems varied from 20watts-200 watts all > working > > 16 sets of speakers, perfect condition, current models, all working, > cosmetically a-ok > > 6 large boxes of kitchen wares, non chipped or cracked.. soup bowls, > dinner plates, cups saucers, glasses, table ware, > cloth napkins, 3 new bath towels, 2 new sheets still in packaging. > > 1 large box with 24 sets of unopened boxed candles > > 1 LCD flat screen computer monitor, perfect working condition. > > 14 recently manufatured (2-3yrs old) computer printers from various makes, > all working no problems, all drivers downloadable > > 1 all in one scanner, printer, copyer, > a1 condition needs ink > > > 1 projection tv > cracked plastic but I removed bottom projection system > and now have a 8ft square screen > projected on a white wall, pretty cool for a free projection tv! > > > various audio and computer cables, all working > 2 microphones > > 20 different potted house plants from 1ft to 10ft high, > all healthy > > 2 cordless phones, both working, > > 4 high end audio amplifiers/tuners, both working > > 35 various framed artwork prints, none broken or damaged > > > 2 boxs of kitchen gadgets, garlic press, strainers, food processors, > clean and working > > > 1 bread machine, a-1 excellent condition, almost brand new > and makes dilicious homemade bread > I might add..love it > > > 5 computer keyboards, various configurations, all working fine. > > 4 DVD players, all working fine > > 1 surround sound tv sound system and 5 compact speakers, > a1 working..great sound > > > 1 box containing a complete 14 piece high end copper coated cook > set. pots and pans, > including lids, clean and in perfect shape > > > 1 ikea style cloths beuro, > a1, no scratches, nice finish and a bonus. I opened up one of the > drawers and found an envelope containing a 50 dollar bill!! > made my day. > > 2 brand new quilted bed comforters still in store packaging. > > > 1 thermoelectric 12 volt camp cooler, a1 perfect working condition. > > 1 thermoelectric hot/cold water dispenser, a1 working condition > > 3 halogen table lamps, a1 working condition > > 1 large tupperware container containing 14 high quality cutting knives > a1 condition > > 3 large aquariums, including pumps, filters and clean gravel > > 1 weed wacker, perfect condition > > 1 gas lawn mower, working condition > > 1 hepafilter air cleaner, working condition > > large assortment of boxes of screws, fasteners, hinges, nails etc > all in original packaging > > 2 8000btu air conditioners, both recent efficient models, both > working a-1 > > 1 box containing 3 recent model harddrives..all working but need > to be reformatted > > 1 walkytalky set..working > > 5 oil lamps, various, decorative, working and undamaged > > 2 electric cloths irons..brand new, still in original packaging > > 1 collapsable snow shovel for car.. cool.. its in my car > as well as a new high end widow scraper, squeegy, colapsable > > > 1 box containing 6 decorative crystal flower vases > > 1 complete ratchet set and ratchet > > 2 metal ramps for car repair > > 2 metal traction aids for ice > > 2 multidriver screwdriver sets with bits > > > 2 brand new tarps one 20ftx 30ft other one 10x15 > > 1 folded space blanket.(metalized mylar) in original package > > 2 deadbolt locks, brand new, including keys > > countless cans of unopened or almost full latex and acrylic paint, > glues, varnishes etc > > > 1 black leather easy chair..perfect condition > > 1 black leather office chair.. perfect condition > > 2 coleman camp stoves..working a1 > > 6 folding camp chairs.. a1 clean, working > > > 3 four slice toasters..clean and working > > countless vcrs..although that's to be expected > > I still use 4 of them anyway..never had to buy one even 15 years ago.. > always found one in working condition. > > countless color tvs of all sorts, many > working a 1 but I don't bother with them anymore.. > same as many monitors..not worth it for > me but most still work fine and should > be recycled instead of landing in the dump. > > > 1 megasized camp cooler > > 2 new paint trays, 4 new rollers and handles > > I could go on but you all get the idea that we are throwing away > far too much. > Anyway, I think that we will continue the tradition and hold an annual garage > sale for a worthy cause, > > regards > tallex > > > > > > > > > > Get your daily alternative energy news > > Alternate Energy Resource Network > 1000+ news sources-resources > updated daily > > http://www.alternate-energy.net > > > > Next_Generation_Grid > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/next_generation_grid > > > Alternative_Energy_Politics > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Alternative_Energy_Politics > > > Tomorrow-energy > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tomorrow-energy > > > Earth_Rescue_International > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Earth_Rescue_International > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): > http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > -- Darryl McMahon It's your planet. If you won't look after it, who will? The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy (eBook and trade paper) http://www.econogics.com/TENHE/ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
