A Tale of Two Garbage Cans

Canada
December 7, 2015 3:33pm CST
Why do people insist on overflowing a garbage can when there is another one almost empty two or three steps away? It isn't like it's a convenience thing either. They have to walk past the second one to get to the exit door anyway.
14 people like this
11 responses
Ann LeFlore
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
7 Dec 15
OK now you have asked this one here is another. Why must a person lay down his trash on the ledge when the garbage can is right there. It is so hard to pick up the lid and throw it in? This one makes me crazy too.
3 people like this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
7 Dec 15
Lol. They do that too. Maybe the lid is too heavy. On our outdoor bins they always leave the trashed wedged in the opening instead of pushing it all the way in.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353763)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Dec 15
We're strange critters aren't we?
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
7 Dec 15
The more I see the stranger we seem.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
8 Dec 15
@JudyEv I've heard the saying before. It doesn't work in my case though. I know I'm a little strange.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353763)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Dec 15
@koopharper 'Everyone's strange 'cept thee and me, And even I'm not sure of thee'. Have you heard this saying? :) The original might be 'mad' not 'strange' but you get the picture.
2 people like this
hereandthere
@hereandthere (45635)
• Philippines
8 Dec 15
same with atm machines. i would put an open trash can one on the left, the other on the right to catch all those crumpled pieces of paper.
1 person likes this
Patsie Hatley
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Dec 15
theperson does everything by havit and that the habit that they use to put away the garbage catch them in the act and pointout the empty garbage can lol
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
9 Dec 15
@Hatley Pointing out the error of their ways usually earns a rather unfriendly response. I try more subtle ways with pretty much the same rate of success. Better than being cussed out.
1 person likes this
S George
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
8 Dec 15
some of our behaviors are strange.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
9 Dec 15
People can definitely behave very strangely.
S George
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
9 Dec 15
@koopharper But I think law and awareness can help them to change.
Reine25
@Lucky15 (37374)
• Philippines
7 Dec 15
Hahaha. Sounds like my neighbor. And i am still trying to understand her why
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
7 Dec 15
So there are people like this all over the world?
1 person likes this
Reine25
@Lucky15 (37374)
• Philippines
7 Dec 15
@koopharper i must say..yes. it is annoying to have someone like them around un
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
8 Dec 15
@Lucky15 I have to find a way to laugh about it or it would really annoy me. I get to clean up the mess when the garbage ends up on the floor.
Suzanne
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
8 Dec 15
I remember dealing with things like that when working at McDonald's. You definitely see a wide variety of people going through those doors.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
9 Dec 15
We kind of get used to the quirks of the regulars. Being just off the Trans-Canada though brings us out of towners all the time. Those you can never know what to expect.
1 person likes this
Suzanne
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
9 Dec 15
@koopharper I used to work at a service center right off the QEW, and we got all sorts of people.
1 person likes this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (163586)
• United States
7 Dec 15
It sounds like a compulsive habit. Not even thinking through the process.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
7 Dec 15
That is probably the only reasonable explanation.
bonnie
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Dec 15
wonder if it could be kids doing it?
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
8 Dec 15
It's usually the late lunch crowd. Sometimes that includes the high school kids sometimes it doesn't. I don't think it's age related.
moondebi
@moondebi (1199)
• Bangalore, India
9 Dec 15
This is for that human tendency to make a short-cut, and not to put an effort.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
9 Dec 15
I think it shows how few people will pause and look for a second garbage can when the first one is full. It isn't their problem so they don't put any additional thought or effort into it.
peggy baker
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
8 Dec 15
It's probably done because others choose to pick the one closest to them.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
8 Dec 15
Not sure. Seems to be more of a habit thing. For people who go to the back of the restaurant it is the closest trash can but I've seen people come from the other section walking past the nearly empty one on their way to the full one.
1 person likes this
peggy baker
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
9 Dec 15
@koopharper Probably didn't think about either.
1 person likes this
MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (84704)
• United States
8 Dec 15
Probably just plain laziness or maybe not paying attention to how full the garbage can is
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
8 Dec 15
I'm sure laziness and inattention are part of it. It just wouldn't take much additional effort to look up and notice the other trash can.