Do I get aggressive?

I am mainly working on ewaste lately, but have dabbled some in normal scrap. It's a side business, not a living. I happen to live behind a salvation army...there is one guy in particular who seemingly watches the bosses leave, then hits the dumpster. I kind of have that feeling of "it's mine!" because I live so close, but I feel that I am on a potentially thin line because the guy knows where I live. I don't want to P him off by getting the stuff, since he can see where I live...not saying he would do anything, but you never know. Is it worth messing with to you? I know they say an unaggressive scrapper is a hungry scrapper, but I feel that might work both ways here.

I would talk to the store manager, see if they are ok with anyone going through their dumpster (it's on their property). In doing so, you look like the better guy by not just taking stuff after hours, and who knows, maybe he/she will let you know before they throw stuff in there and you could get better stuff. Alot of people here do this with Salvation Army's near them so it might happen.

Originally Posted by ozarksewaste

..there is one guy in particular who seemingly watches the bosses leave, then hits the dumpster.

Does he work there?
When I have seem something like that in the past the person was stealing
Putting good stuff in the dumpster then coming back in the evening to recover/find that stuff

He doesn't work there...based on his truck and trailer and what I see in it, he is a pro scrapper. Their dumpster is in a public alley, so it is pretty much open game...which I know means that it is as much mine as his, in theory. The stuff that is in there is 80 percent crap and trash, ten percent useful but not really scrap (for instance walking by there today I found a coin roll counter) and ten percent is scrappable in some manner.

Well if it's in an alley then it's basically free game, first come first serve. Instead of sitting there watching him, you should be there taking stuff too

Use your home field advantage . What time does he go there usually ? Well go before him , take your pick of the litter and avoid the confrontation . Me personally I don't climb in dumpsters there are bad things in there like razors , needles and such . Be carefull in there and try to branch out their are plenty of other dumpsters and other places for free things . Keep fightin a good fight!

Reminded me of when i was given a 28 foot section of I-beam that was laying on a parking lot, the guys told me you can have it but if by the time you get back some one else shows up im letting them take it... i have a 6 foot truck bed, so i said alright... backed my truck tires onto it and walked home ( a good 15 miles) to grab a sawzall and batteries lol

Originally Posted by jw7783

Well if it's in an alley then it's basically free game, first come first serve. Instead of sitting there watching him, you should be there taking stuff too

One rule. First come first served. If occupied then bounce until you are first. Manners make helpers. Other always see you and they see how you operate . Be the good example others beg to follow. Share if possible. It's scrap not life or death. Breath.

Good luck - would like to hear how it turns out. Hopefully no stupid confrontation (on his part).