Neighbor dumping trash into my garbage can

[Anonymous]

Today is garbage day. Trash pickup came around 10:30am - I work from home and saw them collect my trash through the window as I was hosting a call. Call gets over at 11am, I go out to collect the trash bin and notice it's really heavy. I open it up and it's 3/4 of the way full, filled with a bunch of garbage that looked like it's from a home improvement project - it's not our trash. Our neighbors across the street started up a landscaping project a few weeks ago and it's been ongoing. They are currently outside, working on this.

I didn't see anyone put anything in our trash can, as I was in a meeting. But I know it's them. No one else on our block is outside or has a remodeling project going on now. Plus, they're literally across the street - easy for them to toss their stuff in our trash.

So now, we are stuck with a 3/4 filled trash can for a whole week. Isn't this illegal dumping? Anything I can do about this, besides post a Karen-esque post on Nextdoor?

[Anonymous]

Why not walk over there and ask them, like a grown up?

[Anonymous]

Ask your neighbors if they saw the person who filled up your trash can after the trash was collected. They’ll deny it. Mention that only an ahole would do that.

If it’s properly bagged up, leave the bags at the curb. Since it’s not food trash, it’s unlikely an animal would get into it. Use your trash can as usual.

[Anonymous]

If you are absolutely know who it is, return the trash to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are absolutely know who it is, return the trash to them.

I did this. Do it now before it becomes a habit.

[Anonymous]

I would just ask them about it/ask them not to do it again. Our neighbors were dumping in our trash at one point and we politely asked them not to, saying it took up space for our trash, and they stopped.

[Anonymous]

Any cameras around?

[Anonymous]

OP here. The trash is not bagged up, unfortunately. It's a bunch of old pipes, concrete pieces, packaging from materials, -- that kind of thing. I can't ultimately prove it was them - no camera and I didn't see them do it. It's only a guess.

[Anonymous]

It's likely the workers, not your actual neighbors. Workers don't care - they're not going to live next to you. So you go over there, ask to talk to the site manager, and tell him not to let his workers dump their trash in your trash cans. Also tell him you're going to deposit what they dumped onto the sidewalk on their side, so they can take care of it. And then drag your can there, and dump it out in front of them.

Also contact your neighbors, be polite and tell them their workers thought they could put construction trash on your property, and to please reinforce with them that this is not OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's likely the workers, not your actual neighbors. Workers don't care - they're not going to live next to you. So you go over there, ask to talk to the site manager, and tell him not to let his workers dump their trash in your trash cans. Also tell him you're going to deposit what they dumped onto the sidewalk on their side, so they can take care of it. And then drag your can there, and dump it out in front of them.

Also contact your neighbors, be polite and tell them their workers thought they could put construction trash on your property, and to please reinforce with them that this is not OK.

They're not 'workers' - in that these people are most likely friends or family members of the neighbors. It's like 4 people working - the husband and wife are both out there helping out on the project, along with their teenage son and like two other men. That's all. They should know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's likely the workers, not your actual neighbors. Workers don't care - they're not going to live next to you. So you go over there, ask to talk to the site manager, and tell him not to let his workers dump their trash in your trash cans. Also tell him you're going to deposit what they dumped onto the sidewalk on their side, so they can take care of it. And then drag your can there, and dump it out in front of them.

Also contact your neighbors, be polite and tell them their workers thought they could put construction trash on your property, and to please reinforce with them that this is not OK.

Excellent advice. When my neighbor's housekeeper did this, I brought the trash back and spoke with the homeowner, telling them that we paid for the can, needed it for our own trash, and they could arrange with the city to get another can for a monthly charge of $x. People can be so cheap that they have their kids and workers do this sneaky dumping instead of paying for extra trash capacity when they need it.

[Anonymous]

I’d talk to them about it. They might not even know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The trash is not bagged up, unfortunately. It's a bunch of old pipes, concrete pieces, packaging from materials, -- that kind of thing. I can't ultimately prove it was them - no camera and I didn't see them do it. It's only a guess.

Could be a problem as concrete needs to be disposed of separate from other trash in some jurisdictions.

My suggestion is to ask the workers to take back their trash immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's likely the workers, not your actual neighbors. Workers don't care - they're not going to live next to you. So you go over there, ask to talk to the site manager, and tell him not to let his workers dump their trash in your trash cans. Also tell him you're going to deposit what they dumped onto the sidewalk on their side, so they can take care of it. And then drag your can there, and dump it out in front of them.

Also contact your neighbors, be polite and tell them their workers thought they could put construction trash on your property, and to please reinforce with them that this is not OK.

They're not 'workers' - in that these people are most likely friends or family members of the neighbors. It's like 4 people working - the husband and wife are both out there helping out on the project, along with their teenage son and like two other men. That's all. They should know better.

A little more awkward, but you really need to tell them (nicely) that the contents they put in do not go in the trash, and that they are now taking up space that you need. Keep the tone pleasant, and tell them you'll have to deposit the contents here (where there trash cans usually go). Give them the website of your trash collection agency, and point out which materials can be picked up as domestic trash by the truck, and which have to be picked up by special request.

In short, since it's the first offense, come across as helpful rather than offended... but still rid yourself of the contents on their side.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised you only get trash once a week?