I've trouble with the idea that any city thinks it's entitled to the things I put out on my driveway or next to my garage ("Scrappers, city compete as volume of trash falls," Aug. 12).

Those are places that I own and pay taxes on every year. I've put things there that the city pickup trucks drive right past, such as a patio umbrella, a small patio accent and a couple of old lawn chairs.

Now why would I call to have them come back and pay at least $25 for that service when a scrapper is happy as heck to have it?

I pay to have my garbage picked up. The city isn't entitled to all of it if I want to give away some items for free.

QUENTIN KNUDSEN, St. Louis Park