I have seen things thrown out because they are old by my grandparents and others of their generation. Things that work better then what you can buy new like a very nice wall mounted can opener that was installed before they even bought the place. That can opener I would kill for now, it was 70 years old when they tossed it and it opened cans better then anything I have ever had access to otherwise even after they pulled it from the wall.

Why was it not passed down? It was "old" and theirs so it could not just be given away, the very thought bothered my grandparents of some nar do well having their stuff. I remember when I was a teenager them paying me and my brother to smash all the glass from their old storm windows so that no one could go into the trash and use their stuff.

These are not bad people overall, but this is what I have seen people of that generation do. This is why we have the toss it away and get a new one mentality.