If you have a few dollors why not rent a storage shed, get movers to move the stuff to storage. Send a letter he has to sign for. Send to the bar. Might be worth getting it over with. I would feel responsible also for someones stuff, but I doubt he ever comes to get it.
In the letter say if he does not pay the shed rent the shed owners will sell his stuff such and such a time.
By his history you mentioned you need to be free of everything.
Lots of people could give it away,but you coud not live with that guilt as I could not.
Think of the expense as a health expense.
Just a thought.
If the bar tender is such a good friend perhaps he would come get the stuff???
Just ideas.