Neighbors’ Trash Bin Is At The Curb For Days: What To Do [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — Say it’s a Friday and trash pickup day was Monday, and your neighbor’s trash toter is still at the curb — or maybe it has rolled down the street in a gust of wind or become buried in snow.

Sound familiar? If so, what do you do? Do you move it away from the curb, talk to your neighbor, or just wait to see if town officials crack down on them? If you mention it, do you risk becoming known as the neighborhood fussbudget? Is it worth getting worked up about, or do you just let it go?

Neighborhoods value curb appeal, and trash bins detract from it. That’s why most cities and towns set out in ordinances when trash can be taken to the curb (usually the evening before) and when they must be wheeled back to the property. Many say the toter should be at the curb for no more than 24 hours. But enforcement isn’t always a priority.

There’s got to be a more constructive approach than, say, using the neglected trash receptacle as a community can and, when asked about it, explaining you thought community service and not laziness was the reason it sat at the curb so long. We’re asking for Block Talk, our regular neighborhood etiquette column.

To help us figure out the right approach, just fill out the form below. We will not collect your email address.

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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