this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2024
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Cash donations banned in Belgium. But what about the city trash collectors who beg once per year? How much do people give them? (fedia.io)
submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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When charities like Oxfam ask for donations, they actually refuse cash donations because the practice is banned. Presumably this is to deter the fraud of a beggar posing as a charity.

What’s the deal with the trash collectors, who once per year just before the holidays go door-to-door asking for donations? It seems they are asking for gratuity for the work they did over the course of the year. Questions:

  • Are they strictly compensating the scheduled trash bag collection service, or does that also compensate those who pick up litter along the sidewalk and curbs?
  • Do they accept cash? If yes, is that legal? I’m thinking there must be a distinction between charity and gratuity, and since it’s still common to tip waitstaff in cash the law may only apply to charitable donations. OTOH, there is no fraud risk with tipping a food server. But anyone can pose as a trash collector and go door-to-door.
  • What are people’s thoughts on trash collectors going door-to-door asking for money? Is it fair enough, or is it off?
  • What amounts do people give? And what amount would be an insult?
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[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

This is a tradition that's becoming more and more rare, but yes they are allowed to come to you and ask for money. You have no obligation to give them any.

I don't know why it's only the trash collectors but my guess is that it's from a time when housewives were a thing and they would get to know their local mailman, trash collector, milk delivery guy, and would give them a small stipend at the end of the year.

Here's a little extra info from the RTBF