The Garbage Snatchers

The other evening, I was quietly playing my piano, singing a little, and feeling quite harmonious, when from the street I could hear a rattling and banging noise.  I remembered it was garbage night, and thought to myself, "Not them again."  I ran to the front window and peaked around the curtain.  Sure enough, it was one of them.  A thin, older lady in black pants and loose jacket was leaning over the neighbor' recycling bin, carefully picking up items and examining them.  She threw some back in the can and when she found what she wanted put the item in her white plastic bag.  She had one cart loaded to the brim with bulging bags and a couple of other white bags which she carried.  I watched a while as she busily worked sorting through the discarded cans, bottles and other recyclables.  Then I had an idea--I ran and got my new camera.  I gingerly opened the front window and climbed onto the porch, positioning myself at a good angle to capture her image.  Then click and flash went my camera.  The lady stopped, looked around and spotted me on the porch.  I quickly smiled nicely and waved.  She looked frightened, hurriedly closed the lid of the can, got her belongings together and scampered off across the street, disappearing into the shadows of the darkening evening.  Then I wondered--was I being mean?  Silly?

For the past couple of years, I have been watching these "garbage snatchers" roaming the neighborhood looking for recyclables to cash in for money.  They must know the garbage routes for the neighborhood since they show up in the evening after most people put their cans out for the morning pick-up.  During the day I see these frail-looking elders pushing heavy, metal carts top heavy with their evening's haul heading for the grocery store where a recycling truck is parked outside.  I wonder how much money they make?

I also wonder if this is ethical.  Personally, I feel uncomfortable having someone rummage through my discards, even if it is garbage.  If I want to give something away, I'll just give it to one of the many agencies that also canvas our neighborhood for discards.  The recycling, I'm actually giving to the Sunset Scavengers, so in some way, these garbage snatchers are stealing from the Scavengers.  Is this okay?  It has never happened before around here, and I feel uneasy about it.  I know a few months ago, the city tried to make an ordinance to keep people from ransacking garbage cans, but it didn't pass--probably would cost too much and not worth the effort--in this time of budget cuts.

I asked other people what they thought of the these strange activities.  My brother was amused by it and said that the people came from another country where this activity is probably normal.  My son thought it was great that they were stealing from a large corporation.  Another person was just silent.  I think that it seems a bit degrading to have to dig through garbage, but on the other hand it is somewhat enterprising to figure out how to make extra cash.  I'm sure these people live with their children or other family members, since the rent in this city is quite exhorbitant, so whatever they make is probably their way of helping out.  I'm not sure if this garbage collecting is an actual problem, so I guess I have to maintain a sense of humor and just put my cans out later.  I'm sure by the next generation, these "Garbage Snatchers" will be part of the neighborhood history.