Neighbors Talk Trash About Garbage Totes Left At The Curb [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — So, your neighbor’s trash toter has been at the curb for a while. What do you do?

It’s simple, said Becca, who answered our question about trash bin etiquette for Block Talk. Don’t be a self-centered jerk.

“If a trash can sitting at the curb triggers you, you have much bigger issues,” she wrote. “Who knows what life issue is going on? Maybe they are sick? Older? Got called away at the last minute for work or to help family?

“In the time it takes you to complain,” she continued, “you could be nice and just pull the can into their yard. That in itself speaks/sends a message, and in a nicer way.”

It’s simple for Eric, too, but his response was 360 degrees away from Becca’s. “Report them,” the Channahon-Minooka (Illinois) Patch reader said.

Similarly, Joliet (Illinois) Patch reader Beth said, “People should be fined if their trash receptacle is still at the curb 48 hours after trash pickup.”

Erin, a Columbia (Maryland) Patch reader, also favors enforcement of rules requiring that trash totes be moved from the curb after 24 hours.

“It’s unsightly and leads to pests,” Erin said.

Huntington (New York) Patch reader Denise said two 50-gallon totes have been at the curb outside a residential group home since before New Year’s Day. They’re “full of loose, dirty items,” she said, and “must weigh a ton.”

But she’s losing patience.

“Today,” Denise said, “I was thinking I should call the town.”

Carole Lynn, who reads Ridgefield Patch and Danbury Patch in Connecticut, has called local authorities on a tardy neighbor. “They investigated, and it was resolved within days,” she wrote.

Trick ’Em

Patch reader JT isn’t opposed to a little deceit.

“Call the police and ask for a wellness check. Tell them you have seen the cans out in front for days and just hope everything is OK,” JT advised. “This is what someone I know said they do. They have a neighbor who was doing this continuously, and they said ‘enough is enough.’ Solved the problem!”

Lauren, a Mission-Viejo (California) Patch reader, makes her point, too.

“Pull the bin onto their driveway so they’re forced to move it when they pull in with their car,” she said.

And Patch reader Patar gets right up in neighbors’ business.

“Bring it up,” Patar said. “Tell them to stop being lazy.”

“Take it up,” said Lacey (New Jersey) Patch reader Robin, who is also irritated when neighbors put their trash totes too close to cluster mailboxes.

Patch reader Charlie doesn’t understand why taking the trash totes back to where they belong is so hard for some people.

“People need to get their mail,” Charlie said, “so why can’t they bring it up when they get mail?”

Wait, You’re Worried About What?

Milburn-Short Hills (New Jersey) Patch reader Sallie is nonplussed.

“I completely mind my own business,” Sallie wrote. “There doesn’t need to be something called ‘trash day etiquette.’ People who don’t have real problems should keep themselves engaged in positive activities, not trying to find ways to judge and report on others.”

“I wish my neighbor’s robocan was my biggest problem in life,” said a reader named Sal.

“People need to be flexible,” said Josie, a Pennsylvania resident who reads Malvern Patch, Radnor Patch and Tredyffrin-Easttown Patch. “Many work at odd times or travel for work, and it may not be easy to adhere to strict rules.”

Gina, who reads Oswego Patch and Montgomery Patch, both in Illinois, doesn’t see what all the fuss is about, either.

“Either leave it, or bring it up for them,” Gina said. “Some people have really busy lives, and we don’t know what someone is going through, although we do have a high volume of laziness in this world. I believe neighbors need to mind their own when it comes to garbage cans.”

“I figure they must be incapacitated or away for a couple of days. Or lazy,” said Patch reader David L. He qualified his answer, adding, “If possible, put your bins in front of your own driveway so they won’t block street parking for others.”

“Let it go, people,” said Theresa, who reads Orland Park Patch and Oak Lawn Patch in Illinois.

“Mind your own business,” said reader after reader.

They include North Hills (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Ben.

“I mind my own business and take care of my own,” Ben said. “However, if a neighbor is known to be elderly and/or physically challenged, I would offer to help with the trash cans when I’m doing mine.”

‘Get Your Trash Cans Cleaned’

Semantics, though.

“The discussion of etiquette means it is merely polite, not obligatory,” said Brooke, a Sammamish-Issaquah (New York) Patch reader.

Fil, who reads both Greenwich Patch and Stamford Patch in Connecticut, took a more hard-line view.

“Yeah, you should put it back on your property right away,” Fil said. “I do when I get home from work, first thing. Some, I see, don’t put it away for days.”

And, yes, Fil said, gusting wind can toss trash totes about. When one “lays in the middle of the road,” Fil said, there “should be a fine.”

Nicole, an Agoura Hills (California) Patch reader, wheels the totes back, but drops a note along with her good deed, telling the neighbor “they should get their trash cans cleaned.”

“Get your trash cans cleaned,” Nicole repeated in her response.

Carla, who reads Tinley Park Patch and Palos Patch in Illinois, wishes her neighbors were tidier, too.

“Put your garbage in bags,” Carla instructed. “On windy days, the cans can fall over and your garbage is all over the street. It’s messy.”

For Christine, a Naperville (Illinois) Patch reader, it all comes down to whether the neighbor is a habitual offender. In that case, her homeowners association would probably fine the person, Christina said.

“If a neighbor is lazy, that’s an issue, but sometimes people go out of town, or maybe they’re not well, or just forgot,” she said. “An offense once in a while is OK, but it’s not OK if it happens every week.”

First-time offenders get a pass with Christine.

“I would bring them their trash can and then tell them I was checking on them to see if they were okay (in a caring way) because the trash bin hadn’t been put away,” she said. “That would be my nice first attempt to get them to comply.”

Enfield (Conneticut) Patch reader Sammi said her response depends on whose trash can is sitting at the curb.

“If it’s one of the neighbors I’m friendly with, I bring it to the top of the driveway. Otherwise, I do nothing,” Sammi said.

‘Judge Them Quietly’

Allie, a Howell (New Jersey) Patch reader, isn’t a bit surprised when she sees trash totes that look as if they’ve been abandoned at the curb.

“People can’t handle putting their shopping carts back, so I think we need more than just trash day etiquette,” she wrote.

Does she do anything about it?

Yes, and no.

“[I] judge them quietly to myself and then go and complain and joke about them with my husband,” Allie said.

Another Howell Patch reader chimed in. “I look at it angrily each time I drive past it,” the person wrote. “It’s not difficult to pull your trash can back to your driveway.”

“Not much I can do,” said Judy, who reads southwest Chicago Patch sites. “They’re slobs and just toss plates of uneaten food in their trash bin, and leave the totes out for up to three days after the garbage truck has come.”

Kay, who reads Across America Patch, doesn’t get too worked up when her neighbor leaves the trash can on the curb for a while after pickup.

But, she added, “What I do mind is my neighbor has a large tree where the grass is that the trash would go in, so instead they block the sidewalk with three trash cans. Kids have to go in the street with their bikes and strollers. It’s ridiculous I don’t know how they find that appropriate.”

“We have one of those neighbors,” said Michelle, who reads Basking Ridge (New Jersey) Patch. “We just don’t say anything in order to keep the peace.”

That may not be the best choice for everyone, Michelle said, adding, “If it’s causing issues to your home, for example, animals on the property or blocking parking spots, then something should be said. If not, maybe keeping the peace is best. There are worse issues that can arise from a negative neighbor relationship.”

Bellmore (New York) Patch reader Andrew said most offenses arise during holiday weeks.

“For as long as I can remember, recycling does not get picked up the day after a holiday,” he said. “We have to wait the whole week. Many neighbors forget this, which is OK, but then they leave the bin out for the entire week.

“I move it back into their driveway,” he said.

‘Less Complaining, More Helping’

Many readers agreed with Becca, the reader who said trash cans left too long at the curb could be a signal there’s something wrong.

“Fortunately, I live in a neighborhood where I know my neighbors,” said Kathy, a Marlborough (Massachusetts) Patch reader. “I move it back to where they keep it in their yard and check to see if they are OK or away.”

“Bring it up for them and check that they're okay,” said Stephanie, an Oak Lawn (Illinois) Patch reader. “Emergencies happen and people should do less complaining and more helping.”

For Lazaro, a Freehold (New Jersey) Patch reader, there’s no question about what to do: “You bring it up to their garage for them. Maybe they are busy, maybe they are sick, maybe on vacation

“Be a good neighbor,” Lazaro continued, adding there’s “no need to treat your neighbors as if they are your enemy.”

“I bring them up for them,” said Brian, a Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch reader. “Almost always, it isn’t intentional.”

Also, he confessed, “I’ve been guilty of putting my stuff out WAY early if I am traveling.”

“I just bring it to where they keep it,” Teaneck (New Jersey) Patch reader Jackie said. “Neighbors helping neighbors. That’s how we do for each other.”

“Find out if they need help and offer to help,” said Elle, a Poway (California) Patch reader.

“Be kind,” said Pleasanton (California)Patch reader Kim. “Take it to the side of their garage, so they can put it in their backyard.”

“Take it up to their house for them,” said said Radnor (Pennsylvania) Patch reader CC. “Be kind.”

“Help a neighbor who may not be able to pull their trash cans to the street,” said Framingham (Massachusetts) Patch reader Tyler.

When she has the time, Patch reader Jenni quietly returns the trash tote to her neighbor’s property because, she said, “I was brought up knowing my neighbors and treating them with respect.”

It’s not worth getting agitated about. “Life is bigger than a garbage can left at the street,” she said.

“If people would stop being so critical and calling police/township on others for little things, there would be a lot more happiness,” Jenni continued. “For every person that is critical about another person, someone could find something about them. Plus, the person could have had a life-altering event. We need to think and act with kindness. If the garbage can is out there for a month, so be it.”

Patch reader Pat has been on the receiving end of neighborly kindness.

“I am disabled. I would have to wait two days until my aide came to bring them back up,” Pat said. “Now a wonderful neighbor brings them up on the same day as pick up. He’s been doing this for years. What a kind thing for him to do.”

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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