WWYD: Garbage problem UPDATE in post #20

[mickeymaker2003]

Our city provides garbage service (it is included in our water bill). We have fairly nice garbage cans that have wheels and the lid is attached by a hinge so you can open it fully to easily empty it (the lid flips down 270 degrees to lay flat across the back of the can). We bought the hinged lids specifically so the lids couldn't get lost, fall off, or blow away. Our garbage man has this annoying habit of ripping the lid off (if you yank hard enough at an angle, you can pull the lid off its hinges) and tossing it like a frisbee into the grass instead of simply flipping it open. I have asked him not to do this (I told him is was difficult to put it back on its hinges and one of the lids had already disappeared) and he stopped, for about a week.

Today we had larger items for pickup (dryer box, wooden play structure pieces, etc). The way that is handled here is the garbage man picks up the garbage in the cans and another truck with a big crane type arm comes to get the bigger stuff. I know the regular truck came by first today (I heard it). When I went to go bring the cans in, the lid is GONE. There is no wind today, so it couldn't have blown away.

I suspect the garbage man ripped the lid off its hinges and tossed is as usual (he does this just about every week). However, I'm guessing the lid landed near the large items for collection pile and then when the big truck came, it took it with the rest of the trash (even though the matching cans were a few feet away after being emptied).

I called the public works department and the person I spoke to said I would need to talk to the department supervisor (who is of course out of town for the holiday weekend). She so helpfully advised me that the city has 90 gallon garbage cans that have wheels and an attached lid... that I can buy for $57

What would you do? I don't really want to have to buy new garbage cans, but I really need ones with a lid--if we keep them in the garage without a lid, they make the whole place stink and if we put them outside the dog and other critters can get into them and they fill up with rain water.

Is it reasonable to expect reimbursement for a similar can? I called within a few hours of garbage pickup, but there is no way anyone is going to find that lid (I'd never even dream of asking them to look through the junk to find it). I have no proof of my suspicions that the garbage guys took it...

 

[BillSears]

My philosophy is....

Never piss off the garbage man or the mail man.

 

[sbell111]

You were right to call the supervisor, but your end game is that the guy needs to be more careful with your stuff, not getting reimbursement.

 

[diznygirl]

You thank the supervisor for the information about the cans they provide and ask for a free one since it's the garbage man's fault. Ask nicely and keep asking until they agree.

Good luck!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I guess I would buy the city bins.

I think we have the cans like your city might be selling. But they have trucks that lift and dump the trash into the track (much to the joy of preschool aged children.)

$57X2 will get you lidded cans that stay lidded after the garbage dude is done with them. Spending $0 and insisting they treat your cans nicely--likely won't amount to much.

You can try to get them for free. But I can't imagine the govt doing that for you.

Our garbage is privately run (Waste Management)--so if your is, you might have better luck.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

My philosophy is....

Never piss off the garbage man or the mail man.

Mine too. Hence, the reason I did not call to complain when he continued to rip the lids off and throw them on the ground.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would buy the city bins.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I would do something nice for the garbage man. They have probably the most thankless job in the world. Maybe leave out some soda or Sportsdrinks on ice for him and maybe give him a Thank you card with a Gift Card to a local Grocery Store. I know since we started doing that, things are great. I have forgotten to roll the trash out to the curb before and they have walked up to get it and empty it for me. I don't think we say Thank you enough. But, no way would I buy the can. Are you not in the city limits? I have never had to pay for a garbage can.

 

[ajk912]

I would buy the $57 can. To me, it's not worth the hassle of pissing anyone off or getting anyone in trouble, plus, you would have a nicer can. Worth the $57 to me. We have one of those cans and it's DEFINITELY worth the money.

 

[pixiewings71]

You have to BUY the cans?? Our garbage company has to provide them to us. That's a city rule.

 

[sunnyday123]

I'd be annoyed that he was ripping off the lids. Sounds like your stuck between a rock and a hard place though if they're the only trash company. Did you explain that he has a habit of ripping off the lid?

 

[daisyduck123]

I would just buy myself a new garbage can & then I would set up a surveillance camera AIMED at the trash cans. Then you will have proof that your lids are being tossed about.

(Two years ago DH purchased a surveillance camera when we had a horrible problem with dog poop being left all over our front yard).

 

[LimeGreenEd]

Where I live you could file a claim against the city for the value of the damaged property. The city lawyer will review the claim and either deny it or pass it along to the city council to vote on reimbursement for you. If your claim is denied you can take the city to small claims court.

 

[Disney Doll]

Our city provides garbage service (it is included in our water bill). We have fairly nice garbage cans that have wheels and the lid is attached by a hinge so you can open it fully to easily empty it (the lid flips down 270 degrees to lay flat across the back of the can). We bought the hinged lids specifically so the lids couldn't get lost, fall off, or blow away. Our garbage man has this annoying habit of ripping the lid off (if you yank hard enough at an angle, you can pull the lid off its hinges) and tossing it like a frisbee into the grass instead of simply flipping it open. I have asked him not to do this (I told him is was difficult to put it back on its hinges and one of the lids had already disappeared) and he stopped, for about a week.

Today we had larger items for pickup (dryer box, wooden play structure pieces, etc). The way that is handled here is the garbage man picks up the garbage in the cans and another truck with a big crane type arm comes to get the bigger stuff. I know the regular truck came by first today (I heard it). When I went to go bring the cans in, the lid is GONE. There is no wind today, so it couldn't have blown away.

I suspect the garbage man ripped the lid off its hinges and tossed is as usual (he does this just about every week). However, I'm guessing the lid landed near the large items for collection pile and then when the big truck came, it took it with the rest of the trash (even though the matching cans were a few feet away after being emptied).

I called the public works department and the person I spoke to said I would need to talk to the department supervisor (who is of course out of town for the holiday weekend). She so helpfully advised me that the city has 90 gallon garbage cans that have wheels and an attached lid... that I can buy for $57

What would you do? I don't really want to have to buy new garbage cans, but I really need ones with a lid--if we keep them in the garage without a lid, they make the whole place stink and if we put them outside the dog and other critters can get into them and they fill up with rainwater.

Is it reasonable to expect reimbursement for a similar can? I called within a few hours of garbage pickup, but there is no way anyone is going to find that lid (I'd never even dream of asking them to look through the junk to find it). I have no proof of my suspicions that the garbage guys took it...

Buy the 90 gallon $57 one. You won't regret it. We have one and I LOVE it!!!!!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You have to BUY the cans?? Our garbage company has to provide them to us. That's a city rule.

We have to rent ours.

 

[dancin'girl]

We had a problem a few years ago where our whole can was missing!!!! Lid left behind on the ground, so I can't imagine that someone stole it without the lid. We had the can really stuffed, so we guessed that maybe the trash wasn't coming out, so they just threw away the whole thing. So...We bought a new one and then the following week - gone again!! It was so strange. We called the town and complained. They did bring us a new barrel. Hasn't happened since, although our recycling bin went missing one trash day, too, and since they wanted us to pay to replace that one I just started using a generic bin.
I guess I would just buy the large barrel for $57. If that one got broken, maybe they would be more apt to replace it for you?

 

[agnes!]

We marked our trash-can and our recycling bins with our house number, that way they have less chance of wandering away (and *staying*) with any neighbors.

agnes!

 

[BelleWDW]

We have the giant City bin with attached lid, because our garbage pick up is an automated 'arm"

You would not believe how many people put the can out with the open side facing the house , instead of the street

 

[JR6ooo4]

he is paid, sure it smells, but it is work. there is no reason he should be destoying private property (or dismantling). When the lid simply flips open....

call the boss every day the lid is torn off. then set up a video cam for whatever retaliation might be attempted... hehehheee

Mikeeee

 

[mickeymaker2003]

UPDATE:

I called the garbage supervisor today. He said having attached lids on personal cans aren't allowed due to the possibility of injuries to the sanitation employees when they are emptied (which was news to me). He also said that the pickup guy should have notified him and he would have sent a letter to that effect instead of pulling them off each time and tossing them. He said I could file and insurance claim for the lost lid.

He asked if he could interest me in the can the city sells. When I asked how much it was, he said it was $57. However, he then added that he could deduct the cost of the other cans (which are $20 each), so it will now cost me $17 and there was no mention of having to file the insurance claim. That sounded good to me, so I took him up on the offer. It is cheaper than going out to buy new cans and neither one of us have to deal with the insurance. The lid stays attached on the city can so I still get to have the hinged lid I wanted (and knowing the attached lids aren't allowed, I would not have bought the hinged kind at the store again). The new can should be delivered sometime this week.