The associated disdain for recycler's generated by the stupid is pretty high on my list of why I went out of bizness and took a 'job'. Ranks about #3, I'd say. I feel like such a chump working for somebody else, especially a global corp (which I won't go into detail about, breathe easy).
I have a whole crew of friends who're now doing time in other states for exactly this and/or similar crime. They no longer had me to keep them straight or narrow. There are many today who as a result of our post NAFTA(etc...) de-industrialization, have no skillset which allows them an ability to be constructive. Resultantly they've chosen destructive. Realistically these are hard working people that commit these crimes. Most often they're drug addled and motivated but that alone doesn't make them bad or useless. Properly directed, a destructive capability held by some who've never been able to learn a trade with their natural inclination's wouldn't be a bad thing for someone needing recycling workers. But there's not much money for it to pay well enough unless you're the top dog or operating on scale. I was both. Well, to the extent of my own microcosm of operational radius.
The fact of drug abuse and/or desperation leading the pack in reason's for such crime is only part of the really sad part of the situation. We live in a shamefully disgusting throw away society which CAN adequately provide Useful reused or repurposed material's for those not too proud to go after or redistribute them in addition to those recycled for income. Unfortunately most only ever see or consider the criminal side associated with this activity because 'news' feeds the corporate mentality of keeping people away from resources, no matter how they're generated. This results in laws which prohibit or discourage 'recyclers', or "scrappers" to those who're engaged. I swear, even these many years after the fact, a full 25% of what I posess and probably more of what my children enjoy playing with is reused, repurposed, or just secondhand. It absolutely boggles the mind, what people throw away! As an example, I have a whole fleet of $200+ (free) PowerWheel's (bat pwr kiddy cars) that have rarely needed more than a simple repair or battery!
The End Result of laws designed to keep people from being "scrapper's" who provide a service more in depth than the hauling companies is that more materials are needlessly going into landfill's. There is SO MUCH that's salvagable which simply isn't profitable enough for big business to consider. I can see the TV Cherokee of my youth crying! In Many places already, only the corporate, authorized and designated hauler may take anything from the public domain of the curb. I live in a state famous as a dumpsite for many other states, which is completely nonsensical considering our greatest potentially contaminatable natural resource of fresh water! A multifacetted load of Crap!
Anyways, my advice for reader's of this post is to look past the "criminal's" propaganda side of this and demand more be done about eradicating the causational side of this bastardization of an otherwise viable and necessary eco-friendly enterprise. The Drugs! What's anybody doing about THAT????
And then do us ALL a favor. Consider the desperation factor of many in our midst. LOOK at what you throw in the trash every time you approach the can. Can it be reused, repurposed, recycled, or donated? If so, then why are you standing in front of the trashcan??? Isn't there a church, community organization, or people you know who might find that useful with a little more effort than you're willing to expend? Keep it out of the landfill!!!
Think about it............................................
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Only in CT.
Crazy world we live in now a days.....
