Frugal Tip: Look for Free Straw/Hay Bales at the end of October

This is my third year in a row where I score free hay/straw bales after the completion of the Halloween holiday. Many people, in my neck of the woods, put up displays utilizing bales and pumpkins/squash to get in the holiday spirit. At the completion of Halloween, many of these are disposed of is some form or another. I started my search by searching along streets to see if anybody is putting them by the curb for disposal. This year, I posted on local social media sites asking if anyone was getting rid of any with an overwhelming response in return. With Straw bales going for around $10 a bale, getting even a couple for free is delightful. I have scored 14 bales in one day after asking.

Cautionary Statement
I advise everyone to take general caution, depending on what you are going to use the bales for, because you may not know if there is toxic gick in the bales. I'm using them as potential mulch/compost (carbon) material so I look for sprouting bales intentionally. Use at your own risk.

Folks might also be able to score free pumpkins and/or squash that ways.

How do you know that the hay or pumpkins have been discarded other than on social media?