Post by oregonpachey on Jun 21, 2013 11:23:31 GMT -5
We get a lot of people who come around on trash/recycling day and rifle through to find cans and bottles to return.
This does not bother me.
What does bother me? This one particular person that comes every week throws stuff on the ground to sort through and doesn't put it back. I have tried putting the cans out later and politely yelling at him (he ignores me and walks away). I am left picking up my recycling from the ground where he has left it.
Any thoughts on how I can get this dude to knock it off? My husband has joked he should go out there with a shotgun. ^o)
Post by speckledfrog on Jun 21, 2013 11:26:26 GMT -5
I would feel the same way. It never bothered me that people collected my cans. It would enrage me that they were making a mess I had to clean up. I would contemplate bagging my cans separate so they could just pick it up and didn't make a mess. A little more work but it would keep me from becoming homicidal on pick up day.
Post by snipsnsnails on Jun 21, 2013 11:29:06 GMT -5
If you're separating out the cans to put out later, can you just put them out with the recycling? Maybe he'll just see those and take them? Or would he still rifle through the rest?
Otherwise, yeah, you've gotta bring in the bug guns.
Yeah, if I wanted to be nice to him I would seperate the stuff out for him, but if he is just rude about it then I would set the trash out later if possible, or maybe try the mousetraps.
Post by oregonpachey on Jun 21, 2013 11:33:26 GMT -5
I am pretty sure if I called the cops, they would laugh at me. By the time they actually got here, the guy would be long gone.
I do like the idea of bagging up the cans separately but he isn't the only one to go digging. Someone else would take the bag and then this guy would still dig.
Oh well. I guess I just need to yell louder at him.
Honestly- I would go OUT to him and face to face tell him "I don't care that you go through to get the cans, but I'd appreciate it if you'd clean up the mess.".
While he's showing you no respect, show him some and go out to him and talk to him - don't just yell at him.
If that doesn't work, then I'd start considering the mouse trap option....
If you catch him doing it, bring a camera outside and take pictures of him as proof that it is happening. If he doesn't stop after that, take the pictures to the police so they can issue him a citation.
Honestly- I would go OUT to him and face to face tell him "I don't care that you go through to get the cans, but I'd appreciate it if you'd clean up the mess.".
While he's showing you no respect, show him some and go out to him and talk to him - don't just yell at him.
All of this.
And as much as I hate litterbugs, I'm not on board with calling the police on him. In general, the economic circumstances that lead people to recycle and trash-pick are so lousy that I consider that punishment enough.
Post by AlpineSlide on Jun 21, 2013 11:52:10 GMT -5
I'd be pissed. Are you always home when the trash company come around to pick up? Maybe leave your boxes in the garage until you see the trucks on your street and then bring them down to the curb at the last minute?
Post by firedancer49 on Jun 21, 2013 12:24:03 GMT -5
Yeah, that would bother me.
We have these two guys that drive around our new neighborhood the night before trash morning and when they see something they want they stop, run out, throw it in the back of the truck and hop back in and drive off and then shut the door. I saw them going through my area a few times last night.
There's a guy that comes around to ours also. He's very friendly and courteous though.
I would go the friendly route first. Maybe put the bottles/cans aside for him and explain that to him. He would probably appreciate it and hopefully not make a mess. If that doesn't work; then the gloves come off!!
We put our cans in a bag and put it next to our recycling bin after realizing an older gentleman was going around getting the cans. It cut down on the riffling and the mess. He wasn't as bad as what is going on in the OP (WTF), but without fail a paper would fly away, something would fall next to the bin, etc. The pre-sort makes our, and our older recycling man's, lives easier.
Post by VeryViolet on Jun 21, 2013 14:52:43 GMT -5
Is your car parked near your cans? Set off your car alarm as soon as he gets near your cans. It probably won't work long term but it will give you some immediate satisfaction.
That would absolutely bug the shit out of me. Are you home during the day? We can hear our truck coming from a block away from our living room and often roll our can out at the last second.
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
What about a motion sensor sprinkler? Point it right at your cans. Just remember to turn it off early in the morning so you don't accidentally get the trash collectors. Usually it scares people and makes them uncomfortable so they just leave - especially if your shut off valve is right up by the house. I'm particularly fond of the scarecrow.