Police Cite Man for Taking Recyclables from Curb

An Eastpointe man was cited Tuesday for removing recyclable materials from the curb in front of a home on the 300 block of West Elmwood.

said they observed the 33-year-old man picking up lawn mowers, bikes and chairs and loading them into the trailer of his blue Suburban at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. The city of Clawson has a "no scrapping" ordinance, which means that any items placed on the curb for trash collection belong to the city, police say.

"No person, except persons employed or authorized by the city, shall remove or cause to be removed recyclable material which have been placed for collection at the edge of an alley or curbline. Recyclable materials shall become the property of the city at the time such materials are placed at the edge of an alley or curb for collection," the city ordinance states.

Officials said Clawson receives about $21,000 each year from trading in recyclable materials.

The man told police the homeowner called and told him to pick up the items, but the homeowner said that wasn't true and that the man stopped by on his own to gather the materials, a police report said.

Police said the Eastpointe man did not have a valid driver's license, and neither did his girlfriend, who was sitting in the driver's seat of the Suburban that was parked outside the home. The man also had a warrant out of Roseville, the police report said.

Police impounded the truck and cited the man. A court date is set for 8:30 a.m. June 1.