Dump Pickers win in Meredith!

[Skip]

Dump picking returns in Meredith....in part do to the testimony of at least one former regular poster from this site:

Monday Union Leader article

[dpg]

I heard from a reliable source that FLL is there right now waiting for the gate to open!

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by dpg

I heard from a reliable source that FLL is there right now waiting for the gate to open!

If were lucky, they will keep him !!

As to the original topic. I have never seen anything wrong with dump picking so I am happy to see the pickers prevail. Over my many years, I have picked quite a few things from dumps scrap metal piles etc.
It has been quite some time since I have been to it, but the Campton dump actually had / has a small shed where people can leave items their throwing away and then other people are free to pick those items up and take them hope if they so choose.
I do understand the liability concern of having "Joe resident" get injured rummaging around a pile of scrap metal etc. And I am not really sure the best way to deal with that issue.
I am not the lawsuit happy type, If I hurt myself digging out a useful piece of scrap metal, so be it ! Throw a band aid on it and move on.

Well, after I added my post I went and read the article and it states clearly what is being done to reduce or eliminate the towns liability. It all makes perfect sense to me. Go Pickers !

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by Skip

Dump picking returns in Meredith....in part do to the testimony of at least one former regular poster from this site:

Monday Union Leader article

This is what was in THE MEREDIITH NEWS on November 18, 2010:

[Argie's Wife]

Does anyone else find it ironic that it's costing the town money (legal fees, administration time, etc.) so people can pick garbage that's free?

Seriously... why not just hang up "Enter at your own risk: The Town of _(insert town name here)__ will not be held liable for any injuries or losses while you are picking trash."

I don't get why this is such a big whoop.

[Woodsy]

AW...

Because just like EVERYTHING else in this country.... you need a law! Without a clearly defined law or rule for every possible happenstance... you might find yourself on the losing end of a lawsuit!

You need a law to tell people cigarettes are bad for them.... a law to wear seatbelts.... a law to wear helmets.... etc!

Kinda silly really!!! but there was thsi lady that got hot coffee from McDonalds.....

Woodsy

[fatlazyless]

If you are not familiar with the layout of the picking area at the Meredith Transfer Station here's the modus operandi:

For many, many, many, many years, the picking area was very simply a small pile of miscellaneous junk lawnmowers, bicycles, waterpumps, hotwater heaters, broken wheel barrows, and numerous other junk items. It would start out as a small pile, and grow and grow and grow into a large pile, until someone in the transfer station management decided that it was time to use the big front-end loader to pile it all into a large dumpster and get the dumpster removed.

One very sad day about 18-months to 2-years ago, the above described process was changed to eliminate dump picking. There-after, a large dumpster was always on site, and every single day, all of that day's unloaded junk got sorted away into aluminum-steel-etcetera-and the bulk of the junk was loaded into a six foot tall dumpster on a daily basis, like I already said. "No Dump Picking Allowed" was the new massage dictated by the new signs!

Boo-hoo......what a sad day that was....and I had been thinking about remodeling the kitchen and bathroom.....but no more...what with this new policy! Definately.....not being able to go dump picking is downright un-American!

Hey...here's a thought....maybe the town could hold a yearly lottery for a small number...maybe ten....of dump picking permits.....like right after the 11-pm show-of-hands voting at the annual Meredith town meeting held on the first Tuesday night in March. You know something, holding a dump picking permit lottery after the annual voting would most likely get a lot more residents to actually show up and vote! That just might work out real good like that!

[BoulderBronco]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

AW...

Because just like EVERYTHING else in this country.... you need a law! Without a clearly defined law or rule for every possible happenstance... you might find yourself on the losing end of a lawsuit!

You need a law to tell people cigarettes are bad for them.... a law to wear seatbelts.... a law to wear helmets.... etc!

Kinda silly really!!! but there was thsi lady that got hot coffee from McDonalds.....

Woodsy

Agreed. It's rediculous. We need one law to cover all that BS. It's called the "stupid law." Very simple. If you do something that the general public feels was stupid or the dangers are considered publicly know, then you lose. Obviously it needs some tweaking and better wording but I honestly think it would work. Oh, you burned yourself with a hot cup of coffee that didn't have a huge red caution sign on it. Your stupid, you lose.

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by BoulderBronco

Agreed. It's rediculous. We need one law to cover all that BS. It's called the "stupid law." Very simple. If you do something that the general public feels was stupid or the dangers are considered publicly know, then you lose. Obviously it needs some tweaking and better wording but I honestly think it would work. Oh, you burned yourself with a hot cup of coffee that didn't have a huge red caution sign on it. Your stupid, you lose.

"The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should
be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the
safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself."



Source: http://bored.com/crazywarnings/index.htm

Dumb and Funny Warning Labels On Products

Liquid Plummer
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Windex
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Arm & Hammer Scoopable Cat Litter
Safe to use around pets.

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This product is not defined as flammable by the Consumer Products Safety Commision Regulations. However, this product can be ignited under certain circumstances.

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Keep out of reach of children

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Old Spice Red Zone Deoderant
Use only on underarms.

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Ignite lighter away from face.

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Triops Fish Food
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Chainsaw
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Bar of Dial soap:
Directions: Use like regular soap.

Swann frozen dinners:
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Fits one head.

Tesco's Tiramisu dessert: (printed on bottom of the box)
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Boot's Children's cough medicine:
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Nytol sleep aid:
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Japanese food processor:
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May irritate eyes.

Novelty rock garden set called "Popcorn Rock"
Eating rocks may lead to broken teeth.

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Instructional video on hooking up VCR included.

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Black rubber fishing worm
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Sterno
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Container of salt
Warning: High in sodium

Hose Nozzle
Do not spray into electrical outle

[Jonas Pilot]

The worst part about this is someone thought that all this was necessary, told this to another person and they agreed!

[fatlazyless]

Don't cigarettes have something like five different warning disclaimers in large letters on each cigarette pack and still something like 20% of adult americans, 18 and older, are cigarette smokers. For american truck drivers the rate of cigarette use is supposedly 50%, and yes, they must be able to read english pretty good in order to pass the truck driver's cdl written license test.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

The worst part about this is someone thought that all this was necessary, told this to another person and they agreed!

Someone did something stupid with a product and said I think I'll sue. That person found a lawyer who said, " I think you may have a case!" and filed the lawsuit. It came before a judge who refused to issue a summary judgement against the lawsuit and allowed it to go to trial. Now here is the really scary part: a jury of our peers decided that the certain someone who did something stupid with a product should have been warned by the manufacturer not to try that stupid thing, and oh yeah, this same person should be compensated by $ x, xxx, xxx (that's like hundreds of thousands of dollars, or more!)

It could be funny, except it is so true.

[kauriel]

It can always be worse. I worked for a town that had to close the give/take area because of fighting and disputes!

For those without access to a give and take area I highly recommend using Freecycle to get rid of or obtain free items. You can join your own town or the closest to you. Groups exist for Laconia, Wolfeboro, any many other towns.

http://www.freecycle.org/group/US/New%20Hampshire

[tis]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Someone did something stupid with a product and said I think I'll sue. That person found a lawyer who said, " I think you may have a case!" and filed the lawsuit. It came before a judge who refused to issue a summary judgement against the lawsuit and allowed it to go to trial. Now here is the really scary part: a jury of our peers decided that the certain someone who did something stupid with a product should have been warned by the manufacturer not to try that stupid thing, and oh yeah, this same person should be compensated by $ x, xxx, xxx (that's like hundreds of thousands of dollars, or more!)

It could be funny, except it is so true.

It is so true and it is sad. It has changed our country immensely, in so many ways. It has made life so much more complicated.

[CrawfordCentury]

Good on Meredith for doing away with this un-American provision.

First time I got reprimanded for picken, I just about come unglued. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Restrained myself since the dump dude was just trying to do his job. Had to think to myself, "Self, so there's no picken. What's next? Mandatory flag burning? An official cuss out a WWII vet day? Harangue granney for the inhumane treatment of MacIntoshes in the baking of pies?"

I hope that Meredith shall be as a City upon a Hill. A Beacon that others may look to in finding their way.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

... Because just like EVERYTHING else in this country.... you need a law!

Due to the abuse of aluminum can "pickers" (who walked ahead of recycling trucks), a law was passed at my winter home: It had to be made illegal to stop the picking-through of recycling bins residents had put out on the street!

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Does anyone else find it ironic that it's costing the town money (legal fees, administration time, etc.) so people can pick garbage that's free? Seriously... why not just hang up "Enter at your own risk: The Town of _(insert town name here)__ will not be held liable for any injuries or losses while you are picking trash."

I don't get why this is such a big whoop.

Well, there's this:

Father dies in fall at dump:
http://www.concordmonitor.com/articl...r-fall-at-dump

And this:

"Wrongful Death in NH or MA? Call Our Lawyers! Free Consultation!"
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...C+dump%2C+fell

On the other hand:

I've signed countless waivers for my recreational hobbies that involve "risk". Personally signing a waiver should be all that is necessary to shield each town against any self-imposed misadventure.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

Due to the abuse of aluminum can "pickers" (who walked ahead of recycling trucks), a law was passed at my winter home: It had to be made illegal to stop the picking-through of recycling bins residents had put out on the street!


Well, there's this:


And this:

On the other hand:

I've signed countless waivers for my recreational hobbies that involve "risk". Personally signing a waiver should be all that is necessary to shield each town against any self-imposed misadventure.

Of course your first link is not exactly relevant. The death did occur at a transfer station in Concord, however the deceased was not picking through trash. He fell into a dumpster (about a 10 foot fall) while bringing his trash to be disposed of.

[john60ri]

There used to be a legal concept called "assumption of risk". If you're there voluntarily, and the risk is obvious, you don't collect any money damages for your foolishness. The new legal concept is this: If you tell a good sob story, and the jury tears up, you get lots o' money.

[CrawfordCentury]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

"The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should
be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the
safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself."



Source: http://bored.com/crazywarnings/index.htm

Dumb and Funny Warning Labels On Products

Liquid Plummer
Warning: Do not reuse the bottle to store beverages.

... &c &c.

Ya can't fix stupid, as they say.