At the request of the Crown, the trespassing charge leveled against Gerard Daechsel was withdrawn today in court.
The law student representing him said she was unable to comment on why the Crown moved to drop the charge.
Daechsel, a resident of Centretown, was issued a $65 ticket in January under Ontario’s Trespass to Property Act. He was found rummaging through a stranger’s garbage.
In an interview with the Ottawa Citizen, Daechsel said that he tries to limit waste by helping others recycle. Often he finds people putting recyclable goods in the garbage.
Daechsel puts reusable items to use and properly recycles goods that have been misplaced in the trash.
He was prepared to dispute the ticket as he said he remembered standing on the sidewalk while rummaging.
Daechsel salvages in an activist spirit. He said he thinks as a society we are far too wasteful.