Disappearing garbage can

[miws]

No theories off the top of my head, and since I’ve been in an apartment for almost nine years now, I don’t have to be directly concerned about my own cans.

But, I find it doubtful that the collection crew would be removing it as a matter of a violation of policy. (Of course there’s always the possibility of a “bad” employee taking it for whatever personal reason they might have).

It seems that I’ve read/heard, or perhaps just assumed that the collector would leave a note, (and likely leave the can unemptied) and then notify a supervisor, who would then make contact with you, possibly after they, or some other inspector type came out to verify the situation.

Mike

Share This

[celeste17]

Have you talked to your neighbors to see if they know what is happening? Have you asked a neighbor to bring it in right after it is emptied? Sometimes there might be a stay at home parent or a retired person who wouldn’t mind bring in your can to see if that will stop the disappearing can?

I know that if I don’t take my garbage out when my neighbor is taking his out he will step across the street and take mine to the curb. And if I see their garbage can rolling around in the street I will take theirs in when I am getting mine.

Share This

[Anonymous]

There was an occasion in our alley where persons looking for easy things to steal, used the can to haul things. At least that’s my guess since several of us had insignificant things missing from our backyards, along with the can. I was more upset to lose my pooper scooper. Weird thing to steal.

Share This

[mayjune]

Is it possible the wind is catching it? I’ve noticed that our can is very, very light when it’s empty, and something about the way our house/driveway is situated makes it extremely prone to breezes. The other morning our lid had blown down the street 2 houses, though I wouldn’t have called it a windy morning at all and didn’t notice any of my neighbors’ cans blowing over.

This may be too simple of an explanation, but that was my first thought because we have to watch out for ours on collection day.

Share This

[Sue]

Have you checked neighboring houses to see if it’s there? Our recycling people have lately been leaving our can at the neighbors’ house and I have to go looking for it.

Share This

[MargL]

If your can was too heavy they’d either not collect your garbage or charge you more for ‘extra’. My guesses are wind, neighbors or hooligans. Spray paint your house numbers in big day-glo colors on the next can so if it is neighbors or wind you have a chance of finding it.

Share This

[Keith]

We experience the same issue that mayjune described with our cans and all the neighbors’ cans – seems like the slightest breeze turns our alley into a trash can obstacle course.

Share This

[miws]

mayjune and Keith bring up a good point.

Mother Nature seems to have her neighborhood specific winds scheduled on the same day as the garbage pick-up for each area.

Intentional on her part, or coincidence?

Maybe she’s still upset about the “Parkay Incident” from back in the ’60’s or ’70’s…. ;-)

Mike

Share This

[Lena]

Thanks for the responses everyone:-)

We have checked everyone’s cans up and down the alley and the address on the cans. All the cans are out in the alley all the time because of the way the houses are set up above. I’ve looked up and down the whole alley and the alley is in the valley with all four sides going up so it would not blow up the hill. Plus it is always just ours.

I think it would be crazy to steal it because it is usually full of cat litter and dog poo but who knows. It is just very strange that it has happened four months in a row now.

I’m tempted to set up a security camera just because it is so strange but then again it’s just a garbage can and the city seems fine with replacing it every month. Seems like a big waste of money.

Share This

[Author]

Posts