Trash talk
Re “Santa Ana neighborhood locks up its trash,” June 16, and “Treated worse than trash,” Editorial, June 20
So let me get this straight: There are people in Santa Ana so poor that they must resort to scavenging through other people’s garbage to eke out a living -- and the solution is to lock up the trash?
The residents living in these comfortable houses complain that the scavengers make noise (unthinkable) and brazenly walk around outside (the nerve) where a homeowner is in danger of actually “bumping into” a homeless person (the horror).
Has our world really disintegrated into such a cold, heartless place, so devoid of human kindness, that we are actually begrudging the poor even our refuse?
Celeste Rothstein
Lakewood
I live in the city of Huntington Beach, where we have a huge problem with trash scavengers. Contrary to the premise of your argument, these scavengers are not homeless or, in most cases, even poor.
On the contrary, they are people who scavenge as an illegal business, often working in teams of two to three men. I have seen numerous scavengers driving new and expensive trucks. They rip open garbage bags, leaving all manner of disgusting mess on the ground that will eventually drain into the ocean. They don’t care about the environment. They illegally park their cars and trucks in our alley and block our garages.
They are a nuisance, and they are committing a crime by stealing from the city’s recycling revenue.
Heidi Snyder
Huntington Beach
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My wife and I have been disappointed to see growing local worry about homeless people scavenging in the trash, as if it were some sort of fearsome invasion or epidemic. On our street, we have met and talked with a woman who makes a pittance retrieving a few recyclable bottles.
She is not a threat. She is a human being who is homeless. I understand the trash pickup service needs to make some money recycling, but let’s remember, it’s our trash until it gets picked up. We have taken to putting out a separate bag of bottles for our particular “scavenger.”
Your editorial has it just right. We need a bit more heart before we call the cops to protect our throwaways.
John von Szeliski
Santa Ana
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Your editorial skews the views of the residents who protested the appearance of aggressive dumpster divers as being an unkind act against the homeless.
Until the current recession hit us here in our little piece of Panorama City, we too had many, many dumpster divers. The recession has solved the problem on our street. We are not affluent enough for dumpster divers anymore. But as a neighborhood, we still place large recyclable items such as electronics, furniture and air conditioners out to be recycled. Our recyclers are quiet, respectful and resourceful.
Dave Hall
Panorama City
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You seem to feel that a “nuisance” is no big deal and should be tolerated.
Nuisances are the things that whittle away at quality of life -- the neighbors’ loud stereo or party, a barking dog, the guy who constantly revs the un-mufflered engine.
You mention that Waste Management makes a profit from these bins -- and somehow this should excuse the lack of civility of the persons scrounging through the trash.
So the next time your neighbor’s dog barks all night long, have compassion for a very bored dog, look at it as merely a “nuisance” and go back to sleep, if you can.
Bob Braley
Bakersfield
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It was heartbreaking to read about residents of Santa Ana being so bothered and frightened by homeless people searching their trash.
If it were me, I would take the opportunity to help others by putting my recyclables out in a separate plastic bag labeled “Recycles: Free.” That’s a win-win situation
Tammy Smecker-Hane
Irvine