Stuff college kids toss out

[CatdaBrat]

Just returned from "move-out day" over at my son's university. I was shocked at the things those kids threw out. Perfectly good televisions (big, good ones, not junk), mini refrigerators, upholstered/adjustable computer chairs on wheels, lots of shelves and storage units, a Razor scooter, brand-new sets of pots and pans, sets of silverware and cutlery, rugs, mirrors, lamps, you-name-it, they threw it out!

This was not broken junk I am talking about, but perfectly nice items. They just did not want to bother having to move them, or did not have enough space in their cars. I guess in some cases, they figured Mom and Dad would just spring for some new ones next semester.

As a "Dumpster diver" myself, it was driving me crazy to see the big transfer truck come along and haul bins of that stuff away, but we already had our pickup loaded.

What a waste! And this was just at ONE building! I can imagine all the stuff being thrown away all over campus, or at all the college campuses throughout the state. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/freak.gif

[Ironhorse]

I started to ask "what's wrong with these kids?", but then.................what I really should ask I guess is....."what's wrong with these parents?", if it is the parents who sit there and say nothing and replace all this stuff. Such a waste, and so much good could be done with it elsewhere. And these are the same people who gripe because college is so expensive. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/sad3.gif http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/bonk.gif

[BGW]

some of the colleges and universities have caught on to this and have started selling the tossed away items to use for charity or to finance school clubs etc. I find this to be a better solution.

[CatdaBrat]

I am going to contact the school and ask if they can start some sort of program that would make good use of all that stuff. Or at least allow charities to come along and take stuff. I guess it's a matter of everybody clearing out and leaving campus and nobody wants to take the time to organize a plan.

They should at least have some mini-storage units on campus.

[MtnEagle]

In this age of disposable Wal*Mart "Made in China" cheap products, are you really suprised that this occurs?

You'd be horrified to see what ends up in the trash compactor at just one Wal*Mart store described as "Loss" on paperwork...

http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/sad3.gif

[BGW]

It kills me when stores throw out merchandise. I guess to them though a 'loss' or a donation equal the same thing to the IRS at the end of the year. I am even more disturbed by the companies that insist on destroying the items they toss in the dumpsters. I know of one company that takes a box cutter to everything before throwing it out. Eagle has said Wal-Mart goodies go into a trash compactor.

Wouldn't large companies be better accepted in their respective communities if they were to donate these items to the different charities and fund raising activities in their area?

We hear of businesses and business owners being upset because they are hit up constantly to donate something to one cause or another...wouldn't using their 'throw away' items to fill these requests be the way to go?

[CatdaBrat]

I have wondered the same thing in regard to donations. I know that Lowes regularly destroys tons of stuff by putting it in a crusher. Those beautiful lamps that did not sell? Crushed into bits, even crystal chandeliers. Refrigerators and other appliances? Same thing. Seems like whatever gets marked down for a sale, that is its last chance before being destroyed.

I used to think stuff like that could go to some merchandise clearing house, but I suppose if consumers knew that they could just wait and get things cheaper later, they wouldn't ever pay full price.

I would be physically sick if I had to see all that stuff destroyed. And MtnEagle is right -- in this modern "throw-away" society, I should not be surprised.