[Girlene]

The rationale seems to be that once you have put something in the trash, you have relinquished possession, and then anyone else is free to use it for any purpose.

In trashcans that I own and on my property (that I also own)? Wow. Sounds like an illegal search to me. Even if I put my trash on a curb, which I don't, I would expect the trash collector, which I contract to take it to the dump only.

[Eagles6]

Silly peasant! Where do you get such ideas?

[HartleyMBaldwin]

See post 25. As for the trash collector, does your contract specify that the collector is responsible for the trash between when it is placed at the curb and when it is actually collected?