To be so surprised at what people throw away

[Soubriquet]

My dh works at the local tip. Actually he commutes between two local ones on days he’s needed.

They are allowed to help themselves to stuff to bring home. He has come home with some amazing things. Dvds still sealed. Teddies with tags. Furniture in excellent condition. He’s even bought home ornaments that are in pristine condition.

Some of it is valuable. Some not so much.

Last time I went to the tip with some garden waste there was a car next to mine that had a lovely 2 drawer white wooden console table - looked perfect to me . There was a very large leather covered footstool/bench upside down next to it. The driver saw me looking and offered them both to me as he was tipping them because nobody he knew wanted them and our tip doesnt have a shop on site yet .
Unfortunately I am downsizing so couldnt take them .
I did manage to snaffle a lovely enamel bowl from another driver though.

I tried to give decent stuff away for free on Facebook and so many times I was messed around. From chaning plans, to waiting in, people never turning up, being asked if I could deliver 30 miles for free, no thank yous, and just people who were downright ignorant. It's easier for me to shove stuff in the garage and do a tip run every now and then because quite honestly people are too much hard work.

DH hates clutter and his family always buy ornaments or glasses that we’ll never use, think brandy glasses for people who never drink brandy. He was having a rant, he never will tell them to stop buying ornaments, and stepson got a black bin bag and started putting things in it from the lounge.

Of course when ILs visited they asked “where’s that present?” and I honestly said - I don’t know. Because I don’t know where the bin bag ended up.

That’s not what I meant I’ve given away stuff before and had nothing but time wasters who don’t show up so no I won’t be wasting any more of my time. Call me what you like I don’t care.

A few previous posters have commented about excessive buying but that's unfair in many cases. I got dh to bring bags to a local charity shop today - clothes I've grown out of (2 years at a smaller size now so its time they went), handbags dd & I longer need due to a career change and totally different lifestyles and lots of household doubles built up from having 3 kids away at university all needing supplies.

Well, I just wanted to add a little update here. In the last few days, he has brought home:-

Two cutesy animal canvases for DD’s room.
Two rugs, one still in packaging
A mirror still in packaging
Several seasons of CSI, CSI Miami and CSI Ny. They are in order and the discs look brand new. I’m watching them now
An Xbox 360 that works
Two bikes for our dc

Plus other random books and dvds for the kids. It’s just…shocking. Really really shocking.

Our tip also has a little stall for too good to throw items. We purge regularly things that we no longer use but I do make use out of vinted, ebay and FB marketplace. I love passing stuff over to Mum, she takes everything even if she doesn't need it.

Same. Haven’t got them to separate it all and fuck around going to the shops or posting online.

You house must be jam packed with clutter.

A little bit. But we are sorting through the stuff. Anything that we don’t need is going on freecycle

I'll be honest, I could not be doing with all the extra stuff brought in. We are mindful of what we bring into our home.

I live in a very transient area and our recycling centre has a place where all things in good condition can be left. All of our garden furniture, plates (big standard from ikea), plant pots come from there. A friend collects bikes and scooters, and fixes them to pass on to women and refugee shelters.

We collect and exchange books regularly too.

I have no time for the Facebook groups. People mess you about. And the charity shops in our area are overloaded and so very particular about what they want.

I couldn't be doing with other people's old tat being brought home. If that ugly ornament was the best thing you've got, I don't envy you.

I agree OP.
Always get annoyed on freebie pages on Facebook with people saying they will give it to the tip if no one collects. There are loads of places who would take the stuff and yes it's a bit of effort arranging that (dropping off or arranging collection) but it's SO wasteful.

DVDs and ornaments? Ye sounds like tatt to me… they’re probably house / garage clearing. I can’t believe people hunt through skips to take naff ornaments home.

When we moved last year (big non-local move and we had to move ourselves in our van), I couldn’t even give stuff away. I tried selling it, offering it for free, leaving it outside for people to take. Nope, no one wanted it! We couldn’t afford to take it with us so it went to the tip.

Literally very nice outdoor table and chairs, some woman paid £100 for it, but only took 1 chair as all she could fit in her tiny car. Came back a week later for 1 more chair. Then bloody disappeared and left the other 2 chairs and the table she’d paid for, never to return. The people who bought our playhouse (massive nice two level one) came to dismantle it, took half, then returned, nicked the bloody hosepipe (!!) and never came back for the rest of the playhouse. 😂

So I gave up!

Im not on social media and the charities around here wont take anything, so I have no other way of getting rid of stuff.

Don’t you think about the impact on the environment?

Freecycle

Jesus, my OH would be like this, I wouldnt allow it. He has hoarding tendencies and I have to be really firm/controlling (delete according to sensibility)

I dont know what that is. If its something online where my details would be given out I wouldnt be interested.

I ended up taking quite a bit to the tip recently, as no charity shop locally and olio seems to be dead in my area, I wish my local tip had a save section for people to look through like others have mentioned, seems a great idea.

I wish i gave all old things away but not a driver and not a man. So whatever husband is driving away , it probably goes to the tip. I love charity but ....

I’m on a community WhatsApp group so everyone lives within about a kilometre radius. It’s fantastic for free cycling. Things are snapped up within 5 minutes of being put up. This weekend alone, a Victorian fireplace, 2 armchairs, wicker baskets, mirrors, picture frames, boxes of Lego and 2 kids scooters were happily rehomed. It’s great.

That seems crazy to me! So wasteful. Glad some people manage to save the items.