Is it wrong to put trash in your neighbor's trash can?

[bcla]

Our city bought our bins for us. They are the huge bins, one for garbage and one for recycling. On special weeks they pick up yard waste too, as long as it’s in the correct bag.

What kind of bag? We have pretty much unlimited "green waste" pickup. I think the only rule is no poison oak, although blackberry is OK. They can be placed in any kind of can up to 32 gallons, but no plastic bags. The only bags allowed are (up to) 32 gallon kraft paper bags, and most are double bagged. We can also wrap up green waste in tarps. They'll of course leave the tarps and cans, and most of the time they return the paper bags. Ostensibly the only bags they allow are paper because they'll decompose with the rest of the yard waste.

 

[ronandannette]

I eliminated literally every one of your scenarios in a previous post in this thread. There was nothing foul about the small bag. It was harmless. And small.

Well then, I guess you answered your own question - the one you asked in your thread title. 100+ posts later some of us still think it's wrong to impose on somebody (in any way) without asking. You still think it's fine. Has anybody posted and felt compelled to change their mind after reading other opinions?

 

[Disney Doll]

Wouldn’t even hit my radar.

I pay for trash removal in my town. It is not provided by the Town. No HOA so no rules there. Bag of dog poop wouldn’t faze me. Sticky Pepsi can wouldn’t faze me. I don’t worry about my garbage can because it holds garbage. Once in awhile if I think of it I might spray it with some bleach spray, but that’s about as involved as I get with my garbage can other than rolling it to the curb.

We have 1 large rolling trash bin and 1 large recycle bin. Similar to the ones a PP pictured.

Now if it happened frequently where my neighbor was putting so much in that I couldn’t get my own in I’d say something. But an occasional small bag...meh. I have bigger fish to fry in life.

 

[RangerPooh]

I guess it's better to toss it in someone elses can than in their yard or street. If my can is out at the curb and you have a random piece of trash to toss, then it's ok. If it's a whole bag of crap then use your own.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

It was harmless.

Chewing with your mouth open is harmless.
Picking you nose in public is harmless.
Talking on your cell phone during the movies is harmless.
Throwing your trash in someone else's can in harmless.

All harmless, but these things are still rude.

It's nice to be nice, but boundaries amongst neighbors are a good thing.

 

[gemini2727]

Interesting.

Once I was walking my dogs a long way away from home. One did his "business" so naturally I scooped it up in a baggie. Hmm. A long way home. So I took the initiative and disposed of the offering in a nearby bin. I was sue that the owner would understand (it was hardly going to fill the whole bin up) and I found it far preferable than stinking my car up with doggie-leavings.

Um that is part of being a dog owner.
If I was your neighbor I would not have appreciated that or understood your need to be rude.
Stink up your own property with your dog's droppings not someone elses.

I've had my garbage can used by dog walkers...those little bags always seem to remain behind after the garbage is collected. The garbage men aren't looking to pick up tiny bags that make their way to the bottom of the can. So I have the pleasure of retrieving it and adding it to a larger bag, disgusting!

Keep your own poop bag please.

 

[Domo]

*Shrugs*

I just judge by what I would accept myself. If I was the only receptacle for miles around and it was a dinky bag, I'd be fine with it. I'd extend the courtesy. Honestly, it wouldn't bother me. If it was a lot of rubbish or an acceptable alternative were available, I'd object. I certainly wouldn't litter!

 

[gemini2727]

*Shrugs*

I just judge by what I would accept myself. If I was the only receptacle for miles around and it was a dinky bag, I'd be fine with it. I'd extend the courtesy. Honestly, it wouldn't bother me. If it was a lot of rubbish or an acceptable alternative were available, I'd object. I certainly wouldn't litter!

If not for fishing the stinky bag out of the can, I really wouldn't object. If the walkers would add it to my larger trash bag, I'd be fine with it. Just my perspective as poop bag recipient

 

[Domo]

If not for fishing the stinky bag out of the can, I really wouldn't object. If the walkers would add it to my larger trash bag, I'd be fine with it. Just my perspective as poop bag recipient

I guess I'd be blissfully unaware... I don't empty my bins. The bin men don't empty my bins. Big fat machines empty my bins.

 

[bcla]

I've had my garbage can used by dog walkers...those little bags always seem to remain behind after the garbage is collected. The garbage men aren't looking to pick up tiny bags that make their way to the bottom of the can. So I have the pleasure of retrieving it and adding it to a larger bag, disgusting!

Keep your own poop bag please.

Depends on the equipment. A standard can is usually turned over, although I've seen trash bags being pulled out if it seems more convenient and any small items remain. The rollaways that get picked up by mechanical arms should theoretically empty everything. The only problem is that if there's anything that's sticky and little items adhere to the interior. Of course rinsing out the can periodically should take care of that and probably should be done just for odor reduction.

I'm just wondering how everyone does it. Around here it's just on the sidewalk or curb. I grew up where the garbage collector would come onto your property and pick it up. It might be around the side of the garage or sometimes even inside an unlocked gate. These days curbside seems to be the way.

I've heard of some places where there are bears, where they need to go to bear resistant cans. I've heard of ones where the lid is screwed on, and bears generally have a tough time unscrewing the lid. Of course people might also have a tough time. Some have a locking mechanism on the can. The most secure are residential enclosures similar to the garbage cans or bear boxes in national parks. They can use standard cans inside the enclosure, and it takes a human to open the door.

 

[bcla]

I guess I'd be blissfully unaware... I don't empty my bins. The bin men don't empty my bins. Big fat machines empty my bins.

I've had things stick to the bottom. Especially if a sugary soft drink container had been place in there.

 

[msjprincess]

Our cans are put out at the curb. Either in the street at the curb or on the little grassy area between the street and the sidewalk. Our garbagemen pick up the cans and dump them in the truck.

 

[Domo]

I've had things stick to the bottom. Especially if a sugary soft drink container had been place in there.

If the "contributor" has any sense, they'll tie up the bad so there's no, um, leakage

As for soft drinks and coffee, don't get me started! In our offices, it's a major nuisance when people pop half finished drinks in the bins and the constitute "trash water". Finish your drinks people! And stop pouring them all over our keyboards!

 

[ronandannette]

*Shrugs*

I just judge by what I would accept myself. If I was the only receptacle for miles around and it was a dinky bag, I'd be fine with it. I'd extend the courtesy. Honestly, it wouldn't bother me. If it was a lot of rubbish or an acceptable alternative were available, I'd object. I certainly wouldn't litter!

...which is NOT your prerogative. Many, if not most of us wouldn't make a fuss about somebody using our garbage can. But few agree with your statement above. It's selfish and very poor manners.

 

[Domo]

...which is NOT your prerogative. Many, if not most of us wouldn't make a fuss about somebody using our garbage can. But few agree with your statement above. It's selfish and very poor manners.

I disagree with you, but there we go. As I said, I judge others how I'd like to be treated myself. If you think I'm too forgiving or obliging, that is my prerogative like you said, and that is a good thing. I fail how seeing how the rolls would reverse is selfish.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was thinking about this thread this morning. It's trash pick up day. And late yesterday I did some cleaning and had 3 additional very full bags of trash to put out since my son put the barrels out last night. There was just enough room in one of the barrels to fit my 3 bags. If someone else had come by this morning and added their own trash, I wouldn't have had room for my own, even after paying for the service.

I pay so I have room when I need it. Not so someone else can have a convenient spot to put a random bag.

 

[ronandannette]

I disagree with you, but there we go. As I said, I judge others how I'd like to be treated myself. If you think I'm too forgiving or obliging, that is my prerogative like you said, and that is a good thing. I fail how seeing how the rolls would reverse is selfish.

SMH. No, no, no!! You missed the point entirely. It's FINE for you to accept others putting trash in your bin; very neighbourly and nice, actually and I admire that. It's NOT fine for you to do it to others without asking just because you think it's fine.

 

[Domo]

SMH. No, no, no!! You missed the point entirely. It's FINE for you to accept others putting trash in your bin; very neighbourly and nice, actually and I admire that. It's NOT fine for you to do it to others without asking just because you think it's fine.

I fear we are never going to see eye to eye here.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

 

[mom2rtk]

I fear we are never going to see eye to eye here.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

You can't judge yourself. That's the prerogative of the trash recipient.

 

[Domo]

You can't judge yourself. That's the prerogative of the trash recipient.

You can only judge one another by how you would like to be treated yourself. It's the only moral compass we have.

I think Luke 6:37 would help clarify. Then again it could fly in my face. I'm not the most rehearsed in the Biblical Teachings.