The mailbox is/becomes USPS (U.S. Postal Service) domain (I don't know about "property"). Which is why you'll never find handbills placed in them -- it's against the law, and the postal service will fine and/or prosecute companies that violate this.
Again, I don't know all the arguments, but you can, for example, leave your bicycle on public property without losing your property rights to it. (For that matter, you can park your car on a public street.)
I believe the convention is that, when you've placed your trash for pickup, you've also discarded your property rights. Where the line is, though, for example with regard to "placement"? Any lawyers want to chime in?
P.S. Or, I/we could wade through the other comments in this now much larger thread.
Again, I don't know all the arguments, but you can, for example, leave your bicycle on public property without losing your property rights to it. (For that matter, you can park your car on a public street.)
I believe the convention is that, when you've placed your trash for pickup, you've also discarded your property rights. Where the line is, though, for example with regard to "placement"? Any lawyers want to chime in?
P.S. Or, I/we could wade through the other comments in this now much larger thread.