Dispute regarding trash cans for alley pick-up in DC

[Anonymous]

For 10 years living in our DC rowhouse, we've had alley trash pick-up and, on trash/recycling days, we've left our cans on a small strip of dirt/grass on the opposite side of the alley. This patch (maybe 5 ft by 8 ft?) is technically the property of the people whose house is across the alley, but this seemed to be the only option for us. It's a very narrow alley with no space to leave out the cans on our side of the alley, without obstructing the path of vehicles moving up and down the alley. Other residents with similar strips of grass/dirt further up the alley seem to be OK with having neighbors parking cans there; there just isn't space elsewhere. But last fall, a new neighbor moved into the house across the alley from us and, in brief, he says he doesn't want us leaving them there. He acknowledges there is nowhere else in the alley to put our cans, but he insists that we not leave them on his property.

Does anyone have ideas about how to handle this? He's entitled to keep others' trash off his property, but neighbors are entitled to leave their trash out for pick-up.

[Anonymous]

The law is on his side. Figure out where to put your trash. It’s not his problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For 10 years living in our DC rowhouse, we've had alley trash pick-up and, on trash/recycling days, we've left our cans on a small strip of dirt/grass on the opposite side of the alley. This patch (maybe 5 ft by 8 ft?) is technically the property of the people whose house is across the alley, but this seemed to be the only option for us. It's a very narrow alley with no space to leave out the cans on our side of the alley, without obstructing the path of vehicles moving up and down the alley. Other residents with similar strips of grass/dirt further up the alley seem to be OK with having neighbors parking cans there; there just isn't space elsewhere. But last fall, a new neighbor moved into the house across the alley from us and, in brief, he says he doesn't want us leaving them there. He acknowledges there is nowhere else in the alley to put our cans, but he insists that we not leave them on his property.

Does anyone have ideas about how to handle this? He's entitled to keep others' trash off his property, but neighbors are entitled to leave their trash out for pick-up.

Do you store the cans there? Or just leave them out for alley pickup?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The law is on his side. Figure out where to put your trash. It’s not his problem.

+1

[Anonymous]

Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

[Anonymous]

Could you come up with a mutually acceptable compromise? What about volunteering to bring his cans out when you do yours and put them away? Is there another strip of land that would work?

[Anonymous]

Why did you make your fence go all the way to the alley? Why should your neighbor have to deal with your trash there?

[Anonymous]

You need to make room on your property to place your cans for pick up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to make room on your property to place your cans for pick up.

This. Or find another neighbor with room.

Where do the neighbors on your side of the street put their barrels? Why isn’t there room behind your house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The law is on his side. Figure out where to put your trash. It’s not his problem.

This, that's really rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For 10 years living in our DC rowhouse, we've had alley trash pick-up and, on trash/recycling days, we've left our cans on a small strip of dirt/grass on the opposite side of the alley. This patch (maybe 5 ft by 8 ft?) is technically the property of the people whose house is across the alley, but this seemed to be the only option for us. It's a very narrow alley with no space to leave out the cans on our side of the alley, without obstructing the path of vehicles moving up and down the alley. Other residents with similar strips of grass/dirt further up the alley seem to be OK with having neighbors parking cans there; there just isn't space elsewhere. But last fall, a new neighbor moved into the house across the alley from us and, in brief, he says he doesn't want us leaving them there. He acknowledges there is nowhere else in the alley to put our cans, but he insists that we not leave them on his property.

Does anyone have ideas about how to handle this? He's entitled to keep others' trash off his property, but neighbors are entitled to leave their trash out for pick-up.

Er, no. You're not entitled to do anything with his property.

At best, you can offer to rent that part of his property for a fee that he finds acceptable, to use to put your trash cans. But he may just not want them there, not want to look at them, etc.

It really is the absolute height of entitlement to think that you're literally "entitled" to leave your trash on someone else's property.

Holy moly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

[Anonymous]

Here are your choices:
—Go ask one of the other neighbors if you can put your trash cans on their strip as well.
—Each morning, be out at trash & recycling pick up and literally hand over your cans.
—Cut your fenceline and move it back to accommodate space for your cans.

He’s a jerk as a neighbor. I wouldn’t even be so sure he has rights to the strip of grass. It may be part of the alley. And even if it is technically his property, he’s still a jerk. It’s in his interest to make sure the alley is clear and that your trash is picked up. I’ve lived in our rowhouse for 14 years. Everyone helps take care of the alley. You move your neighbors’ trash cans back when they blow over and shovel snow together. You help each other out.

[Anonymous]

Open your gate and put your trash in the entryway or place your cans in the alley and let people drive around them. Do you think the trash crew will not know what to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

no, it's a good solution. normally rowhouse neighbors are considerate of the weird property configurations that makes sharing space a necessity sometime. It's neighborly. If the new people don't want to be neighborly, they can't complain that word gets around.