# To my tenant: STOP putting your trash in my trash can!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 17, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635 "2009-12-17T14:09:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [December 18, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/21 "2009-12-18T03:25:52Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Well, I _am_ the landlord (my husband and I own the building). The reason I accept that some people _don’t_ pay for trash pick up is that, if at time to sign the lease, they give me reason to believe they have other means, I trust them. > > As I said in a previous post, the reasons for _not_ automatically adding trash pick-up to the rent is two-fold: one: some tenants really _do_ have other arrangements; other tenants cannot always pay their rent in full every month, which would leave me with the excess to bear. . . > > Since I moved into the building (four months ago), no one puts trash in cans that have not contracted for pick-up. This indicates to me that the _one_ tenant (I’m sure it’s the same one repeatedly) _knows_ who has hired out for trash pick-up. > > Haven’t quite decided what to do about it, but hunting through the bag to confirm _whose_ trash it is seems like a good start. . . Not sure which WI is your particular vendor, but they generally have different sizes of dumpsters ranging from 2 yard, 4 yard, 6 yard and 8 yard [in the green block looking dumpsters] it might actually be fairly economical to look into one for the whole place - it may actually be less than $15 per unit. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/22 "2009-12-18T04:25:54Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Well, here at the apartment building we don’t have a dumpster; the trailer park we own _does_ have a dumpster, and it is, indeed, padlocked, for obvious reasons. > > Here, each unit (ten of them) has an individual can, spray-painted with the number of the unit that is occupied; if that unit has contracted with Waste Management, their stuff gets picked up on Wednesday mornings. If not, then, no. So, padlocks are not an option. > > I don’t believe it’s someone who lives outside the building who’s putting the bags of garbage in my can. I think it’s a tenant. > > The town is broke, and I believe if, the next time, one of (her) bags shows up in my trash can (I can tell, because I use white trash bags, non-licensed dumper uses black bags), I will not hesitate to search the trash in the bag for evidence of who it is, and call Jerry (local police chief); whether he pursues it or not is up to him. But at least I’ll have proof of who is doing this. . . This seems like a whole lot of effort, to try to _catch & punish_ someone for breaking the rules, rather than making it easy for people to follow the rules in the first place. Just contract with the rubbish firm to have a small dumpster for the building, and tell all the tenants that the dumpster is available for their use. Dumpsters are cheaper than individual cans, so a small fee like $2-$3 per month each should cover it. And dumpsters don’t have to be hauled out to the street each week, the rubbish firm will back up to wherever they are. So you will have relieved yourself of that one task each week, as well as all the worry you are putting into this. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/23 "2009-12-18T13:14:37Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If someone is putting their garbage in your can it just became your garbage and you can go through it at will as far as I’m concerned. Sure. But why would you want to, when you can just catch the Garbage Goblin in the act, seeing as you know the time and place of its arrival? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/24 "2009-12-18T13:32:52Z")
IF you can catch Garbage Goblin, sure - but if you can’t, well, they just gave you the bag, right? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/25 "2009-12-18T14:23:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > IF you can catch Garbage Goblin, sure - but if you can’t, well, they just gave you the bag, right? Right. If it’s in my can, it’s mine. As for the dumpster idea, I’m toying with it. First thing would be to see what the cost would be. Second would be to figure out where to put it. . . Last of course, would be to figure out how to keep other folks in the neighborhood from using 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:** [December 18, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/26 "2009-12-18T14:40:48Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Right. If it’s in my can, it’s mine. > > As for the dumpster idea, I’m toying with it. First thing would be to see what the cost would be. Second would be to figure out where to put it. . . > > Last of course, would be to figure out how to keep other folks in the neighborhood from using it! When you contract for the can, request a lockbar or a locking container [they usually have loops that a lock can be put through] Lockbars are better - they are permanently locked on the top [there is a mechanism that allows the top tp be opened when it is dumped into the truck] and the sliding doors on the side are lockable by a key or combination lock that you own. [this is for the larger 6 to 8 yard dumpsters] For the smaller 2 or 4 yard dumpsters the lockbar is locked by a padlock that the driver needs to have a key for [generally the lock is rented from WI for a small fee] But depending on how many tenants you have, an 8 yard can would probably be best. People have an amazing ability to generate trash to fill the size of the can=) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/27 "2009-12-18T14:49:15Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > I will not hesitate to search the trash in the bag for evidence of who it is, and call Jerry (local police chief); whether he pursues it or not is up to him. But at least I’ll have proof of who is doing this. . . I had someone using my office dumpster for their own garbage. I pulled a bag and found mail, etc with their name. I called the police and they cited the person with theft of “something” (not sure of the term that was used). This was 4 years ago and it hasn’t happened again. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/28 "2009-12-18T15:39:43Z")
Before you get the cops involved, I’d put out a notice to all tenants that they must use their own garbage cans or action will be taken. Getting someone cited without warning is kind of jerkish. Depending on the cost, the dumpster idea is a great one. StG ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/29 "2009-12-18T16:00:02Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Before you get the cops involved, I’d put out a notice to all tenants that they must use their own garbage cans or action will be taken. Getting someone cited without warning is kind of jerkish. Depending on the cost, the dumpster idea is a great one. > > StG I’d say putting your trash in someone else’s can is the jerkish part. Getting cited for it would be just desserts. If it was one time, fine, but this is repeated. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/30 "2009-12-19T00:00:45Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Last of course, would be to figure out how to keep other folks in the neighborhood from using it! Why bother? Generally, the charge is the same whether the dumpster if full or nearly empty. So unless the neighbors overfill it so much the rubbish firm charges more, save your worries for other things. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/31 "2009-12-19T01:31:26Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Why bother? Generally, the charge is the same whether the dumpster if full or nearly empty. So unless the neighbors overfill it so much the rubbish firm charges more, save your worries for other things. While it’s true that the charge is the same whether it’s full or half-empty, there is an additional charge if the trash is _overflowing_, which is something we deal with from time to time at the trailer park. If local residents use a small-ish dumpster to ‘dump’ large stuff like furniture. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/32 "2009-12-19T04:41:48Z")
Our way of dealing with a very similar problem was to go through the trash to see if we could find out whose it was. We found an address a couple blocks away on several items and concluded that these poor folks had lost their trash, so we returned it to them. Put it on their porch. They didn’t try to use our trash can again. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/33 "2009-12-19T04:51:31Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > I’ve considered just putting a $15.00/mo surcharge on all rents and contracting for the pick-up myself! I think this is the best answer. Whenever I hear complaints from people who have a rental property, about the state of the gardens that the tenants don’t look after, I suggest adding the cost to the rent. Then just tell the tenant that they don’t have to tend the garden, someone comes around once a month and does it. Saves both parties a shitload of angst. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/34 "2009-12-20T19:39:35Z")
Damn, you are the landlord. Find out who it is, contract trash service for them, and jack their rent $20. If not charging works for most tenants works for you, great, but if one in particular is causing problems just deal with it directly. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/35 "2009-12-21T02:13:31Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Damn, you are the landlord. Find out who it is, contract trash service for them, and jack their rent $20. If not charging works for most tenants works for you, great, but if one in particular is causing problems just deal with it directly. You are correct. Next time it happens, I will search the bag to find out who’s doing it, and then contract for trash service _for them_ and raise their rent. I knew I’d get good input here! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/36 "2009-12-21T14:55:14Z")
I’m inexplicably quite excited to hear how this turns out. Go **norinew**! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/37 "2009-12-21T15:42:53Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > I’m inexplicably quite excited to hear how this turns out. Go **norinew**! Well, tomorrow (Tuesday) night is the night I put the can up at the curb. So it’s normally Wednesday morning, when I go to retrieve my can, that there’s a bag of trash in it that _doesn’t_ belong to me (I can tell; I always use the white trash bags; the unidentified trash bag is always black; you’d think they’d at least be smart enough to switch to white trash bags; OTOH, this _is_ back-woods WV! 😉 ). If it’s there (as it is four times out of five), I’m searching it to see if it’s who I suspect it is. If it’s who I think it is, either her rent is getting raised, or she’s just getting booted. She’s already $100.00 behind on her rent, doesn’t seem to give a damn about it, and is, in general, just a pain in my ass. I’ve been _this close_ to evicting her before. This _could_ be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, if it’s her! ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/38 "2009-12-22T14:24:52Z")
Let us know how it goes! I’m bizarrely excited to find out of this tenant gets the boot! ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/39 "2009-12-22T19:02:02Z")
Me, too! Subscribing just to hear the Tale of the Trash. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635/40 "2009-12-22T21:52:29Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Our problem is that we’ve seen a sharp increase in people pulling up to our dumpster and unloading their trash. And yes, it can happen right after the weekly pickup. One option we’re considering is installing a lock on the dumpster so only tenants and the trash hauler will have the ability to get into it - but that requires cooperation from the trash hauler. Not to be discouraging, but a lock on a dumpster does not prevent unfortunate persons from leaving their trash on top of, or next to, the dumpster. I speak from experience - actually, that of my father. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-tenant-stop-putting-your-trash-in-my-trash-can/521635.md?page=3)