I have driven a garbage truck in the Des Moines metro area for 15 years .
The spring of 2014 my wife's co worker was telling me how her and her dad go out and clip cords and pick up t.v.s to recycle. She said the get a $1 a lb for clipped cords and (at the time ) 2.80 a lb if they strip the copper .
Then I noticed all the electrical cords I could be clipping while working so I got a pair of clippers.
Then I noticed all the things that the cords where attached to.
My current route is in the western suburbs where people throw away a lot of nice things . Thankfully the company I currently work for does not have a issue with drivers scavenging. Some days it seems I bring more stuff home than I take to the fill