Why don't you just go to their trash daily and save these books.

That is sad.

Same as food. There are some laws in belgium, on a municipal level, that forbid it. But it's still a marginal decision.

I hope it improves in the years to come.

Why don't you just take the books for yourself?

Why don't they give them to a charity to sell? No matter what it is, someone in the world will want it. You know "Someone's junk is Someone elses treasure"

Got back from New York City a few days ago. It surprises me how much food is thrown away, especially considering all the homeless people there.

In British cities, some people can literally live off the bins from supermarkets. It's known as freeganism. Just so much food is thrown away! I would like to think, that as everything becomes more expensive we waste less. We shall see. 

~http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEPs2SJ-st0

It's actually quite sad that we have more than enough food to eat that a load of it is wasted while so many others starve. 

It has more to do with health food laws than anything.McDonalds gives their old burgers to homeless people, homeless people get sick, sue Mcdonalds for millions. End of story.

I'm not sure what people mean about the food thing. You can't give away food that's out of date, nor can you give away food that's been opened or that you've already sold, such as table scraps. You just can't, it's a health code violation and a dangerous safety risk.

As far as old books and media go, you can take that stuff and donate it, but they'll probably throw it away, too. Most charities are overflowing with that kind of thing, they don't have space for more. They'll likely sort it, take what might sell, and toss the rest. No one actually wants most of it.