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Comment by marktangotango | Hacker News Reader

I wonder how this reads to Germans who have what amounts to a national holiday of tossing things out before tax time. I recall the first time seeing what appeared to be brand new furniture and electronics sitting on the side walk; it was quite a surprise. Can anyone from Germany comment?

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I guess you're referring to "Sperrmüll" - it depends on the municipality. From where I come in South-Western Germany, this was indeed the case, and I remember it being a fun day :) Now I live in Berlin, where this official day does not exist. If you want your stuff to get picked up, you need to ask the garbage disposal company to come take it. Many people just dump stuff of all kinds on the street with a sign that it's free to take. Often for absolute crap, which then stays there for weeks. You should definitely be careful if there's no note, because that could be just some random people moving who wouldn't be too happy :D

My neighborhood in New Jersey has two "bulk pickup days" per year, where large items can be put out on the curb and picked up for free. It's a fun day to drive around - sometimes you find treasures, sometimes you get to wonder why someone happens to have something weird.

And there's always scrap metal collectors, and other enterprising individuals, driving around as well trying to make some cash.

I don't get those scrap metal collectors..

Spend $40 in gas driving around all day to get $20 worth of scrap steel.

Unless scrap steel goes for way more somewhere else other than the places I've taken it to.

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