Letters to the Editor

What’s with this scavenging at dump?

Tue, 02/06/2007 - 5:13pm
By: Letters to the ...

On Saturday, Jan. 27, we went to the dump to deposit weeks of garbage. We were there for about 15 minutes and I couldn’t help but notice a Hispanic woman and 4- or 5-year-old boy going through the garbage. She would send him to a SUV parked over where the employees park. He would come back and get another load. She made several trips with a rug, a leaf blower and some clothing.

When you come in the county dump, there is a large sign that says, “No Scavenging.” I went to the office and told the cashier that there was a small boy and a lady taking things from the dump. Her reply was, “They work here.”

My immediate reply was, “Since when does the county employ children?”

She then said his dad works here.

Does anyone holding a full deck think if this child loses a leg or arm scavenging in a garbage dump that maybe the county taxpayer will foot the bill for a lawyer to defend the county? Or maybe would you think that woman and child could be scavenging in a health hazard.

Monday morning I called the county office in charge of the dump. The secretary took my name and phone number for someone to call me back. Well, someone never called, thus my letter.

If indeed the man worked there, the only man I saw there was out going through the trash himself.

You know it could be a lucrative business: Get stuff from the dump where you work and take it to a flea market and sell it. You could call it a lucrative business or, if you want to get technical, you could call it stealing from the county.

What about identity theft? How do you feel about people being allowed to go through the garbage you threw in the trash that went to the dump? This opens a new can of worms.

If we pay to dump garbage, how does one feel about someone making money from what you pay to dump? A better idea, we could get the county to pay us for our trash, and they could go through it and open a thrift store. How about Fayette County Dump/Thrift Store, then our donations to the dump could be tax-deductible. That could work, too.

Now I love junk. I have a history as the junk lady, but maybe going through the dump is just taking it a little too far.

I think a better idea is for the county to know what their employees are doing on Saturday when the boss is home watching football.

LeGay Saul
Fayette County, Ga.

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Hello Legay Saul
AF A-10's picture
Submitted by AF A-10 on Wed, 02/07/2007 - 9:01am.

I found your interest in interactions at the dump intruiging. Just curious, why did you point out the perceived race of the woman and child you believe to be scavengers, but not your own or that of the attendent you spoke with. That, I believe, would have shown consistency. Your main concern is a potential law suit for the county? Please, give me just a couple other examples of letters written by you or calls made by you to avert law suits for the city (police or city vehicles operating above speed limits, failing to use signals, traffic lights burned out, traffic control signs damaged or not in place). I am sure a person with the county's best interests in mind has a record exemplifying these concerns. If confronted with such a "dump" situation again, try this: Approach the woman with a disarming smile, make small talk about the weather or the smell, and then say, "Hey, are we allowed to scavange here, because I didn't think we could?" Now, wait for the answer, and address her 1 on 1 from a standpoint of safety. Within a moments time, you might make an amiga nueva.

"Permiso senora? Podemos hacer esse con la basura, yo creo que no. Pero estoy un poco curioso, gracias."

Kevin "Hack" King


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Poor LeGay is gonna blow a
ptctaxpayer's picture
Submitted by ptctaxpayer on Wed, 02/07/2007 - 9:55am.

Poor LeGay is gonna blow a fuse when Harold runs the four lane right by her house ! That will be a Battle Royale.


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The dump
Submitted by Tammy S on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 8:40pm.

I understand your concerns for the child. That made my heart melt! This mother must be desperate to take her child to a dump to dig through trash.

About your other concerns...please do not take your personal information to the dump...shred it. That is the only way that you will be safe from identity theft. As far as the things that you take to the dump, if they are worth having or selling, why can't you take them to the Fayette Thrift Store or Goodwill. Those organizations do wonderful things with the items that we no longer want. (It is better than filling our earth with useful items)

Just thoughts...

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You are Right
Submitted by GloriaG on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 7:43pm.

Let someone get hurt, employee or employee family member either one, and the taxpayers will be the ones paying. There are rules for a reason. Someone in charge needs to enforce them.

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Scavenging at the dump
Submitted by mswench2u on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 5:49pm.

There was an article not too long ago, I believe in the police blogs. They arrested two men who were at the dump and had gotten into a fight over what they were taking. Does anyone else recall this?
So I would have to say, this is not the first time someone has been scavenging at the dump. Just my two cents.

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Scavenging at the dump
Submitted by Eliza on Mon, 02/12/2007 - 4:02pm.

Scavenging at the dump SHOULD NOT be allowed. Sometimes I wonder if the people who run and/or work for Fayette County have any common sense whatsoever.

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Eliza: dump scavenging
Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Mon, 02/12/2007 - 5:19pm.

I've noticed a few people on here who are really upset about some people who are sorting through stuff thrown away at the county dump. I have asked others why this upsets them so much since they don't do it, and don't even see others do it. No reason is given so far except that it upsets them.
Maybe you can help explain to me about this? I'm writing a book.
I know it is unsanitary, but we hire people to work there everyday and don't worry about that. I also know they may get hurt and sue us, but they are illegals, so they won't. Anyway they are scavaging through equipment and stuff set aside by the crews---not through garbage bags. It sure wouldn't do for you to live in India, Indonesia, Egypt, China, Africa and other places where this is done daily by thousands, trying to salvage a living. These are mostly small children. I just want to know what surfaces from the depth of your being to disturb you about this?

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