Asked on Sunday, May 19, near the parklet in
front of Just for
Fun on 24th Street near Noe Street:
Have you noticed people taking stuff from
your recycling or
trash bins?
Kerry, Brett, and Sloane Wingeier, Chenery
Street: Yeah,
it can be a bit bothersome since they are rummaging through
trash that could
have personal papers in it, but otherwise it’s all right.
Times are hard, but
if it hurts the city’s recycling program, that’s a problem.
Erica Haims, Cesar Chavez Street: I do
recycle, but I haven’t noticed anyone rummaging through any of
my recyclables.
I do live in a cul-de-sac, so maybe they just don’t come
around to my house.
Ron Tempesta, Diamond Street: I have
not seen anyone take anything from my bins, but I have seen it
happen in
Dolores Park. There are people walking around, going up to
parties, and asking
people if they are finished with their drink. I don’t mind if
they take the
bottles and cans. It’s good that they are making a living.
Simon Blackstein and Carrina Cappadona, 25th
Street: I see
them every week going through my trash. They leave all kinds
of bottles strewn
around the sidewalk that we have to pick up. If they didn’t do
that, it
wouldn’t affect us. It’s all stuff we are throwing away
anyway.
Tracy Lakin, Noe Street: It’s been a problem
for a long time. There is a guy with a cart and sometimes
another with a truck
that comes by and collects the cans and bottles. They look
like people that
need money. It may cost me, and the city, but it would seem
mean to do anything
about it.
Jim Steinberg, 25th Street: There
are always people lurking around taking stuff from the trash.
Legally they are
committing theft, because the trash belongs to Recology once
it’s out there.
But I don’t really care if they’re taking our trash as long as
they don’t leave
a mess.
Jake Cleveland, 25th Street: Yes, I
always see people—presumably homeless—taking my bottles and
cans. I feel fine
about it, it’s not like I am using it. I have conversations
with them and they
ask if I mind, and I always say it’s not a problem.
Jeffrey Gerson, Vicksburg Street: Yeah,
I have seen a homeless person and a guy with a truck come by
and take my trash,
but I don’t mind. It’s trash and if it can give them a place
to sleep for the
night, they can take it.
