Ok, it isn’t as bad as it sounds, but I did feel really weird about it. You may remember my previous post about how much my neighbors toss in the trash, and my rant about how much of it could be donated or recycled. This time I decided to do something about it.
When my husband left for work, he emailed to tell me there was a bike in my next-door neighbor’s trash. So, I went out to take a look. Sure enough, sitting with the trash was a perfectly good woman’s bike. It wasn’t brand new, but no scratches, well-pumped wheels, working gears, ya know – a perfectly good bike. Since I am friendly with my neighbor, I knocked on the door. I figured I would ask for her permission to take the bike. No answer. Since I knew the trash could come at any time, I wheeled the bike home. Looking over my shoulder every step.
I feel guilty somehow removing this bike, but I would have felt even more guilty if I knew this bike went to a landfill. I haven’t decided exactly what I will do with the bike, the easy thing would be to call Salvation Army and have them pick it up, but I feel like I want the perfect home. So, for now it sits in our garage (which, by the way, faces away from that neighbor’s house).
What would you have done? What would you do with the bike now?
Hilarious! I love that you kept looking over your shoulder. I would do the same thing. I would donate it or put it on Craigs list- “free bike, come pick up.” Then you could make a flyer with all these sad faces wishing they could own a bike and place it in your neighbor’s mailbox 😉
Well….I think it awesome that you found a “steal” in the trash. I will admit, I am guilty of this as well. I have pulled a lot of furniture that is sitting in my house out of someone’s trash. My husband is really good at refurbishing furniture and all I have to pay for is supplies. My friends used to think we spent a fortune on our furniture until I let them in on my “secret.” My boss refurbishes old bikes and they look brand new. Good for you!!!!
Are you a Freecycle member? (http://www.freecycle.org/) It’s sort of the “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” premise. Everything on Freecycle is given away; selling is not allowed. I signed up to get rid of a basket full of baby clothes hangers that I didn’t want to put in a landfill, and I got to choose among multiple people who wanted the hangers. After feeling so good about getting rid of the hangers, I Freecycled an old computer desk that had been taking up half of my garage for over a year. I chose to give it to a single mom with two boys who really needed a desk. All you have to do is sign up for your local Freecycle network listserv. Then you can post your offer, and people who are interested will respond. Since you’re giving away the items, the recipients are more than happy to come pick up the items at your convenience, making it super easy for you. Maybe you can convince your neighbors to sign up, too! 🙂
You made me laugh Jen. Sometimes I put stuff on the curb b/c I know a dumpster diver will take it…unless it’s too unsanitary. I guess that’s you now. 🙂