Dear Miss Manners,

I’m wondering what the proper etiquette is for interacting with the homeless guy who picks through my garbage every morning. Should I separate my waste into categories – rotten fruit, credit card receipts, housewares – for easier scavenging? Should I skirt past that “I’m 90% sure you’re the guy who stole my bike last week” issue in order to make small talk? Should I wait until he’s gone to take out the trash? What if he’s set up shop and has been inventorying the contents of the dumpster for the past hour and I really want to take the kitchen garbage out because it’s stinky?

Please advise.