It’s official. I have turned into my parents. I always swore I wouldn’t, but it is time to face facts.
When I was a kid we lived around the corner from the garbage tip (it’s not as bad as it sounds). This was back before recycling was encouraged and it was ok to dump cans of paint, large sheets of asbestos etc. On Saturday mornings Dad would sit out the front drinking his coffee watching trailer loads of junk be driven past. When he saw something “good” go past he would jump in the car and drive after it. One time, just after Christmas he found a box full of gifts still in their packets. I still remember a grape soap on a rope, and $50 note – which was big money back then.
These days, I no longer live around the corner from the tip, and people no longer just dump surf skis, Lego and other “quality” items. What has replaced it though, is even better!
Instead of going to the dump, people put out their stuff, and the council cleans it up. Lets face it, council clean up is really a community junk swap. And what rich pickings there are!
My parents are now laughing at me when I tell them all the great stuff I have got. Bikes, a picnic table, hall table, Tonka truck, book case, clam shell swimming pool for the kids (ours was broken and went out) and a box of over 150 books including a lot of recent releases, are just some of this years haul.
I used to roll my eyes at my parents when they got stuff for free, now my kids can do the same for me.
Do you like council clean up? What are your best finds?
Here’s Toby’s new ute, courtesy of council clean up – every farm boy needs a ute!
P.S. Since writing this, the Country Boy has come home with more great finds! A new kitchen bench for the farm (which we really need) and a giant dolls house (which we really don’t need and will soon be chucked. See previous post :))
We kitted out our whole garage / rumpus room from Second Hand Sunday (council cleanup) and Freecycle.com.au. We picked up a fully working fridge, microwave, bench, bread oven, kettle (which just needed a descale), spare TV, radio cassette player, a walker and exercise bike. Freecycle is a great online site to give away and receive goods.
I wish I could say that it was out of environmental concern, but the truth is I get a wierd sense of achievement when I manage to get something for free!
hehehe nice work 🙂 Its very environmental to use things that others have discarded. My parents are so similar ! Their fave lounge chairs are from the last council collection – and they are soooo comfortable. People throw out lots of good stuff ! I think perhaps our parents were environmentally conscious in their own way 🙂