Big Garbage Day

Big Garbage Day is approaching in our area of town. On big garbage day, you can set all that stuff out that you don't need or want and the city will pick it up and take it to the dump for you. Lamps, toilets, lawn chairs, fish tanks, etc. This is actually a brilliant concept. The town encourages you to set your stuff out a few days early. This is where garbage picking becomes a sport. I stopped this morning and grabbed a rubbermaid shelf. We have extra hardware in the basement. Free shelf for me. People actually troll the neighborhoods with trucks and/or trailers. If I had the time or inclination, I would have plenty of stuff to re-sell at a later date! Here's where the sport comes in.

You get a beer or a glass of wine and set out something fairly good. Tonight we did it with a fish tank. Then you bet the neighbor that you are playing with. You can wager on how long it takes for someone to pick it up. You can also wager on the vehicle that said person will be driving. There are many possibilities! So, this was a good distraction for us for a few minutes, until a 3rd neighbor comes over and tells me "Set the beer down and help me move this computer desk, eh?" Our town has really figured out the "reuse" part of the three R's. Used toilet anyone?

Another twist on this good Canadian fun. I have a friend who actually does a similiar version of this. Big Garbage pick-up is on Saturday. She and her husband invite their university friends over for a Big Garbage Scavenger hunt. They barbecue and have a few cold ones. (designated driver in each group) After dividing in to two groups, she gives them a list of stuff to look for. They get one hour. Each group piles into a pick-up truck and sets out on the hunt. They award prizes for the best stuff. Then, she picks through to see if anything is worth keeping and puts the rest back on the curb. Good fun, Canadian style!

ETA: I spoke with a neighbor this morning about the phenomena. She said she is always surprised to see stuff on her curb in front of her house....... that she didn't put there! Evidently, the garbage pickers get too much in the truck. If your stuff is better, they dump out the old stuff and leave it and take your stuff. So, if this has happened to you............you have good stuff!