Q. I was recently at a refuse transfer station and noticed that someone had dropped off furniture in what looked to be decent condition. Nearby, there was a sign that said "No Scavenging."

I'm not interested in going furniture shopping at the dump, but I was wondering why people aren't allowed to just pick up discarded items, since technically they're trash. I have two further questions: 1) Where do these types of items end up? 2) Why doesn't the city decline to accept them and make the person dropping them off take them somewhere they could go to a needy family instead?

A. All that furniture is destined for the landfill, regardless of what shape it is.

"The only reason why we don't let people 'shop' at our transfer or convenience stations is safety, health and liability issues," said city spokesman Bill Brennan via e-mail.

Whether unwanted furniture goes to a thrift store or the landfill is entirely up to the owner. "There are some people who do take their furniture to the Salvation Army or the Goodwill stores, some people do not. There is no city ordinance requiring households to donate their old furniture," Brennan said.

Q. I have some old paint I need to get rid of. I assume I can't just throw it out with the trash. Can I call the city to come pick it up or is there somewhere I should take it?

A. How much paint do you have? Brennan said you can throw a small quantity of paint out with your household trash, once it has solidified. "Paint is a common item, but not accepted at the city's biannual hazardous waste drop-off event," he noted.

To get your paint ready for disposal, pour it into a plastic bag with absorbent materials, such as shredded paper, old rags or sawdust. Once the liquid is absorbed, you can seal the bag and dump it in the trash bin.

Other alternatives are using an oil change box or letting the paint harden in the can.

If you use the can option, make sure there is no liquid left so there is no chance the paint will drip from the garbage trucks onto the street, Brennan said.

(These rules only apply to paint from households. Commercial entities need to comply with Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health regulations on paint disposal, Brennan said.)

He added, "Our best tip for your next paint job is to buy only what you need and use it all."