The Neighbor and My Garbage Can
By allearned
@allearned (50)
September 28, 2012 5:05pm CST
I rent half of a small duplex. A single man in his 50's rents the other half. At the beginning of the year, our city switched to a city trash service. They delivered a 96 gallon trash can and a 96 gallon recycling can to both of us. We do not have a garage or shed and have limited space to store these cans.
I called the trash company and requested smaller recycling and trash cans. I asked my neighbor to do the same. He agreed. We place our total of 4 giant cans at the road for the company to pick up. After 3 calls and nearly a month, we finally received new cans, but here's the catch. My neighbor never called for his, so we only received 1 small trash and 1 small recycling can. We have been sharing cans ever since (despite the fact that we are both required to pay for the service). I'm pretty easy going, so I never pushed the issue with the neighbor. BUT...
Two weeks ago, I was unable to take out my trash because my neighbor filled up the entire can. I was ticked. So today I come home and he has dismantled something from his home and filled up the entire garbage can! It's Friday and trash doesn't even run until Tuesday! So what am I supposed to do with MY trash?!
I am so mad. Of course the company was closed tonight by the time I got home, so I emailed them and explained the situation and told them I need another can ASAP.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@creativedigital (110)
• United States
28 Sep 12
I would follow up with a phone call to the company about the email you sent them. They need to fix this situation as soon as possible. I don't think your neighbor will listen even if you tell him about the problem. The neighbor might become angry for no reason and cause you more problems. I would deal with the company rather than the neighbor. Some people can be so rude.
@allearned (50)
•
28 Sep 12
I'll definitely follow up with a phone call since it took so long for the company to fulfill my first request. I don't think the neighbor would get angry with me if I said something, it's just getting up the nerve to do it. I've known him for a couple of years and he's always been really friendly, but today he is on my absolute last nerve.
@creativedigital (110)
• United States
29 Sep 12
That is good that your neighbor has been nice this whole time. It is good to know you need to calm a bit before talking about the problem with him. I understand how garbage companies are with being very slow because they are slow to respond to requests where I live too.
@deazil (4723)
• United States
28 Sep 12
I can't believe how inconsiderate he is. I would be so ripped.
You definitely need to say something to him. Has he been living there longer than you? If he has maybe he thinks he has seniority over everything. I would probably dump half his stuff out and make room for my trash. I'm kind of easy going myself but I have a real low tolerance for inconsiderateness and stupidity. I hope you get another can really quick. Otherwise your trash will be piling up. It's too bad you don't have a shed where you can lock up your trash can. Maybe you could buy one of those Rubbermaid smaller sheds? They're not that expensive. And most of them have a latch that you can put a lock on. I have a feeling that even when you get the other can he's liable to fill them both up. He's really inconsiderate. Either that or really stupid.
You definitely need to say something to him. Has he been living there longer than you? If he has maybe he thinks he has seniority over everything. I would probably dump half his stuff out and make room for my trash. I'm kind of easy going myself but I have a real low tolerance for inconsiderateness and stupidity. I hope you get another can really quick. Otherwise your trash will be piling up. It's too bad you don't have a shed where you can lock up your trash can. Maybe you could buy one of those Rubbermaid smaller sheds? They're not that expensive. And most of them have a latch that you can put a lock on. I have a feeling that even when you get the other can he's liable to fill them both up. He's really inconsiderate. Either that or really stupid. @allearned (50)
•
28 Sep 12
I have to say I was really fired up about it. And the thing is, it's really out of character for him. We've been neighbors for about 2 & 1/2 years and he's always really friendly. I would have thought he would have arranged for an extra can if he knew he was going to start filling the stupid thing up every week. Hopefully I can have a friendly chat with him, but regardless I'm so getting a second can.
I would probably end up having to apologize.
Maybe he thought he had a good reason. You're right. A friendly chat is in order. And thanks for commenting. I appreciate it!
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
29 Sep 12
if they're my cans,i would have dumped it on the stoop.
one of my neighbors tried that with a mattress and he got it back twice.i told him next time,it'd be on fire.
i have no patience with neighbors like that.they know damn well what they're doing.
@eagletrek2 (5499)
• Kingston, New York
29 Sep 12
Hi you should talk to
your landlord tell him what
Going on maybe the town
Can charge him and you
And your nieigboor can pay
The landlord this way
You are not paying for
both but either way
Your landlord should be
Able to help if.not look
For other place have a good.day.
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
29 Sep 12
Hi friend, sad to hear about this, i wonder why your neighbor is doing this kind of thing? since he is sharing the trash can with you, as well as you paid money for it, so he must realize this and use it properly. But he filled his garbage with it and made you to get mad with this incident, ask about this issue with your neighbor, there is nothing wrong in it. Hope you will solve this issue soon
@randomarts09 (1405)
• Indonesia
28 Sep 12
Hmm, I suggest you actually can tell your neighbor but in friendly manner. But since there's a lack of trash can now (although I don't know how in your situation and country), I suggest to collect those your trash into some big trash plastic. That's what I do here, since my house street is quite small and can't accomodate any trash bin, so we include the trash in the plastic bag and it'll be brought by the dustman then. Of course I suggest this as the temporary measure because you can't access for another trash can for the time being. You can tell your neighbor in friendly manner to avoide this ever get happened again though, I think.
@allearned (50)
•
28 Sep 12
It stinks because the current trash company requires that all trash be in the can. The garbage truck has a special arm that picks up the can and dumps it. If I have any trash in a bag not in the can, they will just leave it on the ground in front of my house.
@Paper_Doll (2373)
• Philippines
29 Sep 12
He should have called the trash company right after only 2 small trash cans were delivered. It should has been cleared to him that it is only for your use and not for the two of you. I have experienced the same when I was just renting a room near my work. The owner provided us 1 trash can for 5 rooms which is not enough as I always have to return my garbage to my room because it is always full. There was even a time that I just brought my garbage to work and throw them to our office trash cans. I just can't talk to them as I have several issues about them for so long and I am worried that I will be triggered by the incident and might say something that I might regret after. So even though I find it really crazy to bring my garbage with me, I did bring them to my work to avoid confrontation.
@bloodbinds (7)
•
29 Sep 12
You really need to speak to your neighbour, this is so unfair of him!
Do you think it's possible that he DID call for a new can and only one turned up so he assumed that it was you who hadn't called for a new can, therefore he thinks that that is his can? That is the only explanation I can think of other than he is a very selfish, inconsiderate man!
I would speak to him and explain the situation and how it is unfair that he takes up all the space in the can when you need it too - it is only fair! Good luck!
