Well friends, looks like im done. - Page 2

Another thought may be to get some large used trash cans like 96 gallon and store everything in them. Then it will look like trash cans lined up and not a working scarp area.

You can build stuff to make the yard look nice that can also hold stuff, such as a fake phone booth, lighthouse, manger, etc.

Find out which neighbor it was and put on the ski masks and break his leg. I am obviously not being serious I guess I should ask do you have neighbors that are hassling you or just a prick for a neighbor? How do you know it was a neighbor and just not the inspector cruising the streets.

I am convinced for sure that the amount of scrap in -stock - Inventoried - horded - call it as you want - can overwhelm the space you possess If you gave me a foot ball field I'll find away to fill it . To get it ready for market thats the true Battle . When you get to the point of having to keep it out in the open, thats a problem as here you you are braking down things - thats messy as is and to make matters worse you have items with no rhyme or reason all about. Outsiders don't recognize how you just moved out 900 lbs of stock cause you quickly replaced it with 800 lbs more, all looks the same to them. At the very least cover all your stuff with tarps as this is a nasty dirty business that when radar is on you, you will find that it's not even legal to pull stuff from the curb and take it home.By the way using you car for that also can be illegal.
I have found for me living amongst non scrapping neighbors - that I have to keep it under control. AND I am way out now and had no choice but to slow down .
If I knew about this way to earn money I would pick a place with privacy , how else can one really do this kinda work .

Thanks for the encouragement and ideas everyone...I dont know whp it was who complained, and honestly my stash was hard to see from the roads so the idea of an inspector is dim...im still sore about the situation but it is what it is, at least my landlord is cool about the garage. And as for storage, my basement is devoted to bins for boards, diff alum, wires, etc.

The worst part is is for a year my neighbor had an old camper behind the garage, one from the 70s that her and her ex renovated...and it was ugly, gaudy, and stood out like a sore thumb...and nobody said anything, then in spring they sold it, it actually helped conceal my scrap lol

I keep all of my stuff in either trash cans or chlorine tablet buckets from the community pools trash, and I keep everything very compact and clean. I am slowly replacing all of my trash cans as they are getting pretty bad looking, and I'm replacing them with Rubbermaid Brute Trash cans. They are about 20-50 bucks each at Home Depot, but they stack and last forever.

DO NOT GIVE UP!! This is part of what I call "the fine art of outlaw suburban junking". The code drones have no choice but to respond to complaints by nosy (really jealous) neighbors, I have known many code inspectors and they hate that part of the job. I have been there many times, keep up the dialog with your landlord/ and the code inspector it really helps. My solution was to tarp it all, and keep it moving. Keeping stuff of the ground really helps, old pick-up bed trailers can be had for cheap and HF tarps don't cost much. Move stuff in and out of garage early in the am or late. I hear your frustration, realize that in a hyper-consumer society recycling is a revolutionary act as far as the system is concerned, Stand tall and scrap on!

hey GnR. There have been many fine replies to your problem. I would do everything in my power to hide your outside scrap either in tarps or cans or whatever and make sure to keep the string trimming (weed-eating) done around your pile. These are all excellent suggestions. Also, were it me, I would begin a dialog with your city's ordinance coordinator, explain to the him or her that you are attempting to better yourself and that of your new baby (when he/she is born), explain that you are a full time student and that you are trying to provide for your family as best you can, without resorting to government programs for free handouts. You might be surprised at how much a simple explanation to your local code enforcement officer could help your situation, also, ask the CEO (code enforcement officer) how you can continue in your side business, yet remain within city ordinances. Either way, I would continue to do your best in trying to provide for your family, hide the processed materials, work out of the garage. I wish you the best.

To H#LL with people that try to bring a good scrapper down !!!!

I am so glad that I live out in the boonies. I have scrap laying everywhere, different piles, for different materials. Maybe start looking for new living arrangements, I understand that might not be possible. However, I would do all within my power to figure a way out of/around this situation. I am quite sure you can do it.

Good Luck!