# considering NOT getting garbage pick up **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205 "2014-10-22T23:40:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/21 "2014-10-23T03:14:04Z")
I’m a single person who recycles paper and plastic, and I only have a full enough trash can to put on the curb about once a month. Maybe every 3 weeks. (I can put it out once a week if I want but it’s not worth it to me for one little bag of trash) My pickup is cheaper though. I think $38/quarter. So ~$12 a month. But still I pay it because I don’t want to be haulin’ my own trash. I stayed with a friend a few times who had to haul her own and it wasn’t too bad because she had a little truck she drove around, and everything was out of her way anyway so the dump wasn’t any more out of the way. I would NOT want to put my trash in the back of my SUV let alone a sedan! Yech! And for the times when you just have a spontaneous mound of trash from your wet basement, or from when you finally cleared the previous owner’s junkpile from the yard, or your dog killed a groundhog and the city won’t come get it…Trash Day is Relief Day. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/22 "2014-10-23T03:18:11Z")
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a Doper, it’s that the dump is wherever you make it. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/23 "2014-10-23T03:26:45Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Just remember that in many major cities, garbage disposal is an arm of organized crime. You may rethink what a great bargain that $20 a month is, when your household trash suddenly includes > > **A HORSE HEAD IN YOUR BED!!!** I was actually on the phone when the [guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Galante) had the FBI show up and haul him off to the slammer for price fixing. [I used to do contract compliance and forensic accounting for a waste stream management company] And why yes, one can occasionally find bodies in compactors and dumpsters … I should probably do an AMA on waste stream management sometime. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/24 "2014-10-23T07:35:55Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > What happens if you go to the dump on Thanksgiving and it’s closed? > Yeah, I went there. 😛 I was going there . . . but you got there first. So, we can have two small piles . . . or just one big one! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/25 "2014-10-23T08:03:24Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > the dump is not too far and $10 for up to 1000 pounds. I think that was it. that’s a lot of garbage, maybe all winter’s worth. How much trash do you generate over a whole season? I can’t imagine even one person’s trash from the last several months not being a whole lot to have sitting around, even if it’s very little relative to other households. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/26 "2014-10-23T08:05:29Z")
Question from a foreigner - is trash collection a;ways a private service you have to pay for, or are their jurisdictions where the local authority collect? In the UK, collection is done weekly by the local council (or private subcontractors of the same). This is funded by our local taxes. The majority of local authorities are also pretty strict about recycling and give you a variety of colour coded bins for different stuff (paper and plastic/glass/food waste, garden waste etc). We have a local recycling centre we can take extra stuff to, but, again, this is run by the local authority and is free at the point of delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/27 "2014-10-23T09:14:43Z")
Weekly? I get a garbage truck in front of my apartment building every morning except Saturdays at 5 AM. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/28 "2014-10-23T09:53:20Z")
Its possible you might be a person who is big into recycling and composting and therefore creates very little trash. So you might only produce say 1-2 bags of trash per year. Heck for that I’d bet you could simply take it to work and toss it into the trash bin there. I once was on the board of our homeowners association and we were in charge of making sure who pays their trash fees. Those that dont pay, they dont get trash picked up nor do they get any of the HOA benefits. We had I believe about 6 of 256 homes who voluntarily chose this. Thing is we as a family of 4 create alot of trash and our $16 a month fee is a bargain whereas a single person who recycles nearly everything might produce 1-2 bags for an entire year. Yea, I can see those people not needing a full trash service. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/29 "2014-10-23T09:55:55Z")
Another option is to just go in with a neighbor and put out your trash with theirs if they also produce very little. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/30 "2014-10-23T10:28:57Z")
If you go twice a month in warm weather, you save nothing in those 6 months, it’s still $20, all your savings are in cooler months. You’re going to save based on how often you go to the dump during those months. 6 trips - $60/yr or $5/mo 3 trips - $90/yr or $7.50/mo 2 trips - $100/yr or $8.33/mo 1 trip - $110/yr or $9.17/mo You also need to consider, how much old garbage can you stuff into your Corrola? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/31 "2014-10-23T11:02:32Z")
Is the OP married? Because if he or she is, I advise against using the dump. Taking the garbage there will become just one more thing to argue about. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/32 "2014-10-23T11:25:32Z")
I make this decision every three months when my quarterly bill arrives and I don’t have the $48 for it. I drive by dumpsters every morning when I deliver papers, so I could easily take my trash with me, I guess. But I cook a lot and end up with a lot of bones/fat/smelly things in addition to cat litter and that type of thing; it doesn’t take much to stink up a small SUV. Plus I’d forget and end up with a truckload and that’d make me grouchy. So…I grumble and pay my $48. I do take my recycling away, though. We don’t have curbside recycling here, so one of my customers lets me leave my stuff at her place on her city route. I like **Urbanredneck** ’s idea…see if your neighbor will let you share his/her trash bin for a small contribution. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/33 "2014-10-23T12:34:19Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Question from a foreigner - is trash collection a;ways a private service you have to pay for, or are their jurisdictions where the local authority collect? > > In the UK, collection is done weekly by the local council (or private subcontractors of the same). This is funded by our local taxes. The majority of local authorities are also pretty strict about recycling and give you a variety of colour coded bins for different stuff (paper and plastic/glass/food waste, garden waste etc). We have a local recycling centre we can take extra stuff to, but, again, this is run by the local authority and is free at the point of delivery. [I live in a city](http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/SWMD-Home-Page). Garbage pickup (plus Recycling) is “free.” That is, the City pays for it out of taxes. (And gets some State money, as well.) It’s considered a public health matter–rats, etc. I’m pretty sure that’s the case in most metropolitan areas. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/34 "2014-10-23T12:40:43Z")
I live just outside **Bridget** ’s city. Like many ‘satellite’ communties we operate on a MUD system, a Municipal Utility District. We pay an annual MUD tax that covers sewer, trash, etc but it’s not optional. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/35 "2014-10-23T12:42:45Z")
We moved here just over 10 years ago. Trash collection cost something like $35-40 per month for one pickup a week, no recycling. There are just 2 of us in the household, and we can’t even fill a can in a week. On the other hand, there’s a convenience center about 6 miles away where we can take our trash, recycling, electronics, old motor oil, and even clothing for donation. It’s free. We go every 3-4 weeks and it might take 30 minutes if we have to wait for our turn. Assuming $35/month, we’ve saved over $4K by doing it ourselves. The landfill is a bit further and it used to cost $10/truckload, but I think it’s gone up to $20. When we were doing remodeling, we went there several times, but again, in 10 years, I don’t think we’ve spent $300 at the dump. Plus they have a freebie day twice a year to get rid of hazardous materials, like old paints. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/36 "2014-10-23T12:50:12Z")
On your way to work, drive through the parking lot of an apartment complex, flick your garbage in their dumpster. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/37 "2014-10-23T12:55:41Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a Doper, it’s that the dump is wherever you make it. it’s profound because it’s true 🆒 > [@](#): > > Question from a foreigner - is trash collection a;ways a private service you have to pay for, or are their jurisdictions where the local authority collect? every other place I’ve lived it was part of your “city bill” that included water and sewer. it really varies, mostly on if you live in a city or town or what. out in the sticks people just bury it or burn it or haul it themselves. ah, the rich pageant that is life! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/38 "2014-10-23T12:56:16Z")
Don’t do shit like leave your garbage in someone else’s dumpster. For one thing, it’s illegal and the fine is probably going to be more than you save in trash fees. Plus, how much of a cheapskate are you that you can’t afford the trash fees? (And if you _are_ that cheap, take it to the transfer station yourself; as frugal Nutmeggers have done for decades.) ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/39 "2014-10-23T13:04:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Don’t do shit like leave your garbage in someone else’s dumpster. I never suggested I would. > [@](#): > > Plus, how much of a cheapskate are you that you can’t afford the trash fees? how much of a judgmental jerk are you that you can’t imagine doing something different? lighten up, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205/40 "2014-10-23T13:14:29Z")
No, but others are suggesting it. (Perhaps in jest, but still.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-not-getting-garbage-pick-up/702205.md?page=3)