Is it rude to leave a note in my neighbor's mailbox regarding the trash in their yard?

Question

I live in a neighborhood near a college campus and the neighbors on both sides of my house throw garbage on their lawns that consequently blows onto my lawn. I must then, of course, if I don't want my yard to look piggish because of it, pick up their garbage. One of the neighbors actually throws cigarette butts on my lawn. I think people should at least have enough pride to keep their yards, however humble, free of trash.

Anyway, I don't know either of these neighbors well (and don't really care to). One is a house of undergraduate college kids and the other belongs to an older lady whose son does not work, but collects junk cars. I'm considering leaving notes in their mailboxes asking them to refrain from throwing trash on their lawns (which then blows onto mine). Is this an acceptable way to go about it?

Answer 1

That's fine. If that doesn't work, you can either walk up to their front doors personally, post up signs saying "Do Not Litter," or complain to the city.

Answer 2

The only way you can leave a note in a mailbox is if it has a stamp on it. Putting anything other than stamped mail in the mailbox is illegal. I can't find a reference, but anyhoo...onto the rest of your question.

I would approach your town's code enforcement department. If you don't know where to find them, try calling the non-emergency police number, as enforcement is often a police matter. I'd report the neighbors to that department. Otherwise, your neighbors are likely to make their yards and trash even worse, and possibly victimize you in other ways.

Unless you're prepared to move, and quickly, I would not personally contact them in any way. You could mail them an anonymous, non-threatening note maybe. But I'd type it and mail it without a return address to be sure!

Answer 3

It's not gonna work. Your in a tough spot because if they are so disrespectful as to throw cigarette butts on your lawn, they'll probably just laugh at your note. Worst case is they throw twice as much trash outside just to antagonize. I'd report them to the board of health if its unsanitary, they will issue fines and such if they don,t clean it up. I'm sure you can complain anonymously. Better yet just move to a better neighborhood if possible. Not all poor people are slobs. .

Answer 4

Best to talk to them first.

Then, as long as you're picking it up anyway, why don't you save it until you've got like a garbage can full and then put it on the correct yards? Maybe they'll get the hint. (Put it way on the other side).

On the other hand, it could be worse.
it could be junk cars and beer cans in your yard.
Once it's off the street, the police won't touch it, and most places won't tow it away unless you have the title or be responsible for towing a storage fees.
I let a neighbor use my driveway to work on his car for a couple of days. 6 months later, I finally towed it out myself and parked it elsewhere (well, it kinda slipped the rope and ended up against another neighbors tree). He'd lived nearer to the no-good sobs longer than I had and took it quit well. And, the police had to finally tow it away. On other occasions, when I called them, they said that the had to see it happen or we should settle it amongst ourselves. Well, they was 15 of them (all of their unemployed kids and their spouse and children at various time) and only one of me, so I usually lost.

However, I also had the neighbor across the street ask my neighbor (yes - that one) why I didn't shovel my driveway in the winter. Had he asked me, he would have gotten a ear-full.
The answers are:
I had a double-wide 70' long driveway.
I lived in Chicago.
I have a bad back.
I have a 4-wheel drive truck, so I don't HAVE to (he had the same make of truck - not my fault he didn't spring for 4WD).
If you leave the snow alone, it's an act of god (insurance-wise).
If you shovel it and it re-freezes, it's not.

On the third hand, where I live now, I have an non-resident neighbor who only comes up to hunt. He came up and at some point commented to the resident neighbor about a trash bag or two across the road (not on his place) and said it looked messy when his friends came up to hunt.

OK, you (insert multiple obscenities here) pr**k. YOU wasn't here last week when we had 40 MPH winds most of the week.
I'm the only one around who's screen door still has GLASS in it!
You see that? That's where the roof of the dog run flipped completely over and ended directly on top of the dog-run next to it!
You think I give a **** what your buddies think?

I might add here that trash bags would have been visible for 20 seconds from the road until he disappeared onto his 60-ish acres to hunt. So, I've got him down as a might picky. I picked up the bags - he better be fracking happy - because his next request better be asking me if he can give me $100 cause I'm so nice - because that was the last request he gets.

And, in this unincorporated county area, there are no nuisance laws, leash laws, etc. Neighbors have got to act neighborly or ...
Well, it ends up getting settled one way or tanother - or not.
And where land is usually inherited around here, bad feelings can last for a spell.
I know the guy who owned this land up until he sold it about 12 years ago (one other person lived here in between), and he told me the neighbor could be a problem - but I didn't listen. Finally that and a couple of slips of language that I made and got keel-hauled for convinced me that he was right all-along and I should'a listened to him.
You'd think a guy that knows it all should no better than to p-off the only neighbor that can see if anyone goes onto his property the 90% of the time that he ain't around ...

Um. What was the question again? Oh - try to work it out.

Answer 5

Yes very acceptable, I would call the health department and the city on them. If the notes in the mail box does not fix the issue. It is very unfair to you to have to clean up after lazy neighbors who do not have enough decency to care for their yards. Whatever happened to pride. God bless****

Answer 6

if its in their yards, not your business

if they throw them into your yard, first buy beer and bring it, in both cases, then drink a beer with em, casually mention the trash and how it bothers you after 15 minutes.

50:50 that it will work

maybe a reminder next week if the scholars are really partying hard.

Then decide, is it worth 5 mins a day to avoid possible conflict and pick it up yourself.

Then the note.

Then the cops.

Answer 7

I would just complain to the city. Let the government do the job it is supposed to do. You have disrespectful neighbors. It sounds like you could talk to them until you are blue in the face and it wouldn't make a difference.

Answer 8

While that is certainly a very nice and politically correct way to do things, l wouldn't do this.

These people are demonstrating that they are ignorant and dirty. So why are you trying to engage them.

You are engaging people who obviously are not on the same page as you, so you will not only be wasting your energy, but you will not be able to change them.

I suggest to contact the city and report them, anonymously, of course...and then come and be my neighbour, you would be welcomed in my neighbourhood!!!

Answer 9

It wouldn't be rude (if the note was written politely) but it might be better to talk to your neighbors about it. Is there anyone else being affected by it? Enlist their aid.
If nothing happens, call the local authorities.

Answer 10

Sounds like the college students are in a rental - I would contact the landlord about it. As for the other house, well, you might consider contacting city/county enforcement, and see if they can make a more official visit about it.