The Sidewalk Isn't a Dumpster

Fairfax Building Official Mark Lockaby has a reminder for residents: putting a sign that says "free" on your garbage, doesn't make it ok to leave your junk on the sidewalk.

Town code denotes anything left on the sidewalk or street as a public nuisance, which means town staff spends about two hours a week dealing with responding to complaints of people leaving stuff out and picking up the stuff themselves.

And most of the time, said Lockaby, the town staff just takes it to the dumpster. Sometimes, for big items that are left out, they have to bring in three or four workers to lift that free couch and haul it to the dumpster.

If the junk is trash -- and you need to honestly answer that question -- then residents should call Marin Sanitary for bulky pick-up. If it really is valuable, then donating it directly to a charity like Goodwill, which will also pick it up, saves the town staff time and money.

Do you leave stuff out on the corner?