You are a useless piece of garbage
March 26, 2012 10:08 AM Subscribe
I just saw a guy down the street pull over to the side of the road and throw a bag of trash down the sewer before turning into his driveway. He knows that I saw him do it, but didn't seem to care. This is obviously not ok, but what can I do?
As a rule, I stay out of other people's business but this one really bothers me. I wish that there were some consequence for his action, but I'm quite sure that no one who has the authority to do something would actually care considering how minor an issue this is.
What would you do? Be creative. Thanks!
As a rule, I stay out of other people's business but this one really bothers me. I wish that there were some consequence for his action, but I'm quite sure that no one who has the authority to do something would actually care considering how minor an issue this is.
What would you do? Be creative. Thanks!
Is there a sanitation department in your community? maybe calling them and asking if this is any kind of thing they can go after him for.
If they don't want to get involved, I suggest fishing a few things out of the sewer (if you can reach them), putting them all in a big bag and then leaving them on his doorstep with a note reading, "Hi -- maybe you didn't realize you dropped this, so I brought it back for you. have a great day!!!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:13 AM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
If they don't want to get involved, I suggest fishing a few things out of the sewer (if you can reach them), putting them all in a big bag and then leaving them on his doorstep with a note reading, "Hi -- maybe you didn't realize you dropped this, so I brought it back for you. have a great day!!!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:13 AM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Call City by-law enforcement. This is one of my biggest pet hates about people, especially when there is absolutely no reason the garbage couldn't have gone into a gas-station bin or his home garbage bin.
My city has a webpage to file complaints of exactly this nature and they always follow up on these things in my city at least.
Alternatively, Fish all the garbage out of the sewer and spread it on the lawn... ring the doorbell and say "Hey, I saw this fall out of your car and wanted to return it"
posted by Beacon Inbound at 10:14 AM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
My city has a webpage to file complaints of exactly this nature and they always follow up on these things in my city at least.
Alternatively, Fish all the garbage out of the sewer and spread it on the lawn... ring the doorbell and say "Hey, I saw this fall out of your car and wanted to return it"
posted by Beacon Inbound at 10:14 AM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think you would be best to avoid initiating a neighbor/neighbor conflict, as these conflicts can become quite unpredictable and nasty.
So, you might want to consider phoning up public works or whoever, and explain you saw "someone" throw trash into a drain or whatever, and ask what can be done about it. You can also try contacting city council itself (depending on the size of your community). You could also call up or email by-law enforcement.
Ideally, someone will come out and fish the trash out of the drain, and maybe keep an eye on the street. Perhaps your obnoxious neighbor will be caught in the act.
But it would be unwise to confront him, or to try to engineer a situation where it is obvious that you have fingered him. Talking to him directly about it is also unwise, because, speaking from personal experience (the experience of my parents, who have lived next-door to two nightmarish individuals), it is just unwise to get into a conflict with a neighbor. Unless you have the will and determination to kick their ass.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:23 AM on March 26, 2012 [12 favorites]
So, you might want to consider phoning up public works or whoever, and explain you saw "someone" throw trash into a drain or whatever, and ask what can be done about it. You can also try contacting city council itself (depending on the size of your community). You could also call up or email by-law enforcement.
Ideally, someone will come out and fish the trash out of the drain, and maybe keep an eye on the street. Perhaps your obnoxious neighbor will be caught in the act.
But it would be unwise to confront him, or to try to engineer a situation where it is obvious that you have fingered him. Talking to him directly about it is also unwise, because, speaking from personal experience (the experience of my parents, who have lived next-door to two nightmarish individuals), it is just unwise to get into a conflict with a neighbor. Unless you have the will and determination to kick their ass.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:23 AM on March 26, 2012 [12 favorites]
He was caught in the act.
Not by someone in authority.
OP: I take back my "leave it with a note on his doorstep" suggestion. Go for the authorities anyway - before assuming they don't care, try anyway.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:29 AM on March 26, 2012
Not by someone in authority.
OP: I take back my "leave it with a note on his doorstep" suggestion. Go for the authorities anyway - before assuming they don't care, try anyway.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:29 AM on March 26, 2012
Say you saw a "suspicious individual" drive slowly through your neighborhood and throw a large package into that specific sewer and then speed off. Vaguely describe your neighbor's car.
That will probably get an authority down there quickly. Then we can just hope that there's some identifying garbage in there with your neighbor's name on it.
(Inspiration: my sister and I were being followed by some guys in a car yelling racial slurs and sexual threats at us late at night. We called the police once and were told to "move to a safe area." We called the police a second time and said that we "thought we heard a gun click." A police car sped around the corner 20 seconds later.)
posted by thebazilist at 10:39 AM on March 26, 2012 [10 favorites]
That will probably get an authority down there quickly. Then we can just hope that there's some identifying garbage in there with your neighbor's name on it.
(Inspiration: my sister and I were being followed by some guys in a car yelling racial slurs and sexual threats at us late at night. We called the police once and were told to "move to a safe area." We called the police a second time and said that we "thought we heard a gun click." A police car sped around the corner 20 seconds later.)
posted by thebazilist at 10:39 AM on March 26, 2012 [10 favorites]
Cops. Call the non-emergency line. Can't hurt, might help. Ask them what other resources you have/could contact.
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:50 AM on March 26, 2012
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:50 AM on March 26, 2012
Yes, call the city. In my experience, they take this surprisingly seriously.
posted by small_ruminant at 11:07 AM on March 26, 2012
posted by small_ruminant at 11:07 AM on March 26, 2012
The fact that he couldn't throw it out any other way (my Spock-like mind will not accept laziness in others) seems kind of suspicious to me! I'd call the non-emergency police, or at least, city, as well! Even if it's not body parts, what if it's a bag of puppies that are rescued because someone investigated!
posted by Sayuri. at 11:16 AM on March 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Sayuri. at 11:16 AM on March 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Before I get my dander up about this, please define "bag of trash."
posted by rhizome at 11:29 AM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 11:29 AM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Defining trash: it didn't look malicious. I think it was their fast food lunch garbage.
posted by Dr. ShadowMask at 11:42 AM on March 26, 2012
posted by Dr. ShadowMask at 11:42 AM on March 26, 2012
Say you saw a "suspicious individual" drive slowly through your neighborhood and throw a large package into that specific sewer and then speed off. Vaguely describe your neighbor's car.
Would it be truthful to describe the individual as "suspicious"? I'm not so sure how wise it is to lie to police.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:46 AM on March 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Would it be truthful to describe the individual as "suspicious"? I'm not so sure how wise it is to lie to police.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:46 AM on March 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Nthing to check your city or town's website and make a call to whoever deals with sanitation/trash. I too think they will appreciate it. And your duty will be done.
posted by bearwife at 11:51 AM on March 26, 2012
posted by bearwife at 11:51 AM on March 26, 2012
>Someone caught in the act of committing a crime is definitely suspicious.
Is it a crime or a by-law infraction? My point is, be cautious and be sure you're not setting off a chain of events that you can't control. Like obnoxious neighbors, cops can make your life difficult. Sometimes there are no easy solutions to annoying problems; the solution will take time and effort.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:55 AM on March 26, 2012
Is it a crime or a by-law infraction? My point is, be cautious and be sure you're not setting off a chain of events that you can't control. Like obnoxious neighbors, cops can make your life difficult. Sometimes there are no easy solutions to annoying problems; the solution will take time and effort.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:55 AM on March 26, 2012
What would I do? Honestly, stay out of it. It is obnoxious and someone like that deserves consequences, but he knows that you saw him, so if the police/bylaw/sanitation suddenly show up at his door, he knows that it is you that sent them there. (And yes, there is the whole argument of "his actions sent them there," but that's not how he is going to see it). I have had relatives that have spent years (and decades) living to neighbours they were fueding with, and it has taught me that sometimes it is worth holding back your natural instincts if it can mean keeping the peace.
posted by Nightman at 11:59 AM on March 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Nightman at 11:59 AM on March 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
No, don't stay out of it, unless he's a scary scary dude, in which case you have bigger problems. But if you want to be more neighborly you might knock on his door and tell him that the things that get thrown in there go straight into the creeks and don't get processed by the city's sewage system. He might not know.
Otherwise the city will do it.
posted by small_ruminant at 12:07 PM on March 26, 2012
Otherwise the city will do it.
posted by small_ruminant at 12:07 PM on March 26, 2012
My city actually has a "Nail-a-dumper" hotline for exactly this sort of thing. We also have a citywide 311 line for these sorts of things (reporting graffiti, potholes and the like). I'd check the city website and see if there's any such thing in your area.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 12:18 PM on March 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by pixiecrinkle at 12:18 PM on March 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
Does it really cover a fast-food bag thrown in the sewer? This all feels about to be as surprising as finding out people might give a crap that I put some random paper in their recycling bin while walking down the street.
posted by rhizome at 1:14 PM on March 26, 2012
posted by rhizome at 1:14 PM on March 26, 2012
Does it really cover a fast-food bag thrown in the sewer? This all feels about to be as surprising as finding out people might give a crap that I put some random paper in their recycling bin while walking down the street.
rhizome, those two examples are nothing alike. One is an appropriate place for trash. The other will net you a fine of up to $300 in my city. (Kindly stay away from Pittsburgh, BTW.)
posted by IAmBroom at 1:37 PM on March 26, 2012
rhizome, those two examples are nothing alike. One is an appropriate place for trash. The other will net you a fine of up to $300 in my city. (Kindly stay away from Pittsburgh, BTW.)
posted by IAmBroom at 1:37 PM on March 26, 2012
You suspect him of doing something he shouldn't be doing. = suspicious.
If you see something, say something!
posted by thebazilist at 1:57 PM on March 26, 2012
If you see something, say something!
posted by thebazilist at 1:57 PM on March 26, 2012
Nail a Dumper, 311, or your city's police non-emergency number - in that order, please. If you can get the license number, that's better than not having it.
I speak as a registered Central Ohio litter-reporter and person who knows way too much about 311.
You may also have a centralized solid waste authority, but if you do, they probably run the Nail a Dumper program, or 311/the police will transfer you to them.
posted by SMPA at 2:35 PM on March 26, 2012
I speak as a registered Central Ohio litter-reporter and person who knows way too much about 311.
You may also have a centralized solid waste authority, but if you do, they probably run the Nail a Dumper program, or 311/the police will transfer you to them.
posted by SMPA at 2:35 PM on March 26, 2012
If you got his license plate, call the dept. of public works or sanitation department. I know someone who did this (dumped) and was using MY car. Someone rightfully reported it. I got a letter telling me that a male using my car unlawfully dumped garbage and threatened legal action if it happened again. Needless to say, it never happened again.
posted by fifilaru at 4:06 PM on March 26, 2012
posted by fifilaru at 4:06 PM on March 26, 2012
Trash in sewers is a serious problem, not just because it's trash, but because it's debris that can clog up a sewer and flood an intersection or neighborhood. In extreme cases, where storm and sanitary sewers are combined, it can even back up sewage into basements. This guy is probably thinking "it's my sewer, I can do what I like" and has probably been doing this for years, but he's potentially causing a problem for your entire group of neighbors and thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to fix a blocked line.
I wouldn't hesitate to call authorities.
posted by dhartung at 5:54 PM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't hesitate to call authorities.
posted by dhartung at 5:54 PM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Anyone big enough asshole to dump lunch refuse down a sewer is all the more likely to think it's a convenient place to dump used motor oil as well. Maybe that trash is the tip of a very deadly iceberg.
posted by Goofyy at 5:56 AM on March 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Goofyy at 5:56 AM on March 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chowflap at 10:11 AM on March 26, 2012 [3 favorites]