Neighbors putting trash in our bins (renters, condo, houses)

[cd771]

Hello,

We are located on the end of our block and are having a big problem with neighbors dumping their trash in our bins. They are always overloaded with trash all over the place and we have a rat problem due to it. I've been contacting the alderman and the city and they are doing nothing (we were fined $500 before for trash). The alderman's office says we should bring them in our yard but since we already have a rat problem and it would be a pain to bring those in and out every week for trash day I do not think that is an option. We also have a very small yard and I do not care to have 5 bins taking up what little yard we have as well as the smell that would come from them. We are a two flat and have renters. Our trash bins are full within two days of being emptied even when we and renters are out of town. We also have been having Christmas trees dumped back there even though neither us or renters had one. Any ideas of what we can do? We put a "no dumping" sign which has not helped at all. It has become very frustrating and disgusting.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

[emathias]

Our association was fined over $1,500 in 2008 because of a similar problem. I wish I had useful ideas for you, but unfortunately the City seems to pretend such problems simply don't exist.

[Gunner0325]

Can you chain your bins shut and just make sure all tenants in your building have a key? That is what our old condo building did when we lived there because of the same thing...the only thing is the company that picks up needs to have a key

[ML North]

Quone them.

[Kevin J]

Locks and chains are your only option. My condo building has had the same problem. Our habitual dumper lived behind the alley from us, but he died, so it's not really an issue anymore. We discussed locks and chains as a solution while the problem was ongoing, but other residents didn't want them, due to the hassle. But we had no other solution to stop it from happening.

[Attrill]

Is this just normal trash being put in your trash cans or large items/construction debris? If it's normal trash you should check the alley around your house for houses that don't have trash cans out, or multi-unit buildings that aren't paying for a dumpster. They could be the source of all the trash, and reporting a multi-unit building or making sure everyone has enough trash cans could help. Calling the alderman for extra trash cans for offending neighbors can definitely help. It's a lot harder to stop if it's random drive by dumping.

Other than that you have to either lock them or bring them in, that's the only way to be sure you stop it. The city will do something if they catch someone, but the cops aren't about to start doing stake outs for illegal dumping.

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by Attrill

Is this just normal trash being put in your trash cans or large items/construction debris? If it's normal trash you should check the alley around your house for houses that don't have trash cans out, or multi-unit buildings that aren't paying for a dumpster. They could be the source of all the trash, and reporting a multi-unit building or making sure everyone has enough trash cans could help. Calling the alderman for extra trash cans for offending neighbors can definitely help. It's a lot harder to stop if it's random drive by dumping.

Other than that you have to either lock them or bring them in, that's the only way to be sure you stop it. The city will do something if they catch someone, but the cops aren't about to start doing stake outs for illegal dumping.

If you are willing to spend $60.00 or more go to your local WalMart sporting goods center or Walmart.com. Search for a trail camera, game camera or web camera. The game and trail cameras usually have Infrared night vision capabilities and proximity sensors. The cheaper ones start at around $50.00 and the sky is the limit for the best ones. Even the cheap ones can be set up to take pictures of the offending dumpers.

I have Logitech Web cams monitoring my garage but they are hardwired to my computer. My Logitech C-160 Cost less than $20.00 but it is strictly for indoor use. It would probably be good outside until you had a rain but for $20 it might be worth catching the culprits. An outdoor webcam with a wireless signal would probably work and be less than $50.

Good Luck
GL2

[emathias]

Having video evidence may get you out of a ticket (if it's worth going to court and fighting for you), but it probably won't be very high on the prosecutor's stack of things to prosecute, and it might be hard to know who it is you see in the video.

Also, chains will prevent the bin from being filled up with other people's garbage, but they won't prevent the city from ticketing you if people place trash next to your bin.

It is a vexing issue.

[ChiGuy2.5]

Might I suggest you go throw your garbage away in another neighbors can?

lol. No other solution options that others haven't mentioned.

[JacksonPanther]

Yeah, you have a real problem here, without a good solution.

You can lock the bins, but the offender will just drop the plastic bags next to your bins, making the rat problem worse, and opening you up to more fines.

Same problem if you bring your bins inside. The offender will just drop the plastic bags where your bins usually sit.

You can videocam all you want - what are you going to do with the fuzzy pictures? Maybe if they are clear enough you can post them on your block with a caption - "DO YOU KNOW THIS PERSON? HE IS A TRASH THIEF"