How do I get some of my more hostile neighbors to quit throwing trash in the recycle bin?

Question

Some of the neighbors throw their cans and bottles in the trash, and their food garbage in the recycle bin. I am not speaking of the pleasant neighbors--but of the ones that most people cannot have a rational discussion with (if you know what I mean). Thanks in advance for responsible answers :)

Answer 1

1) Leave an anonymous note (if you are worried about talking to them) and let them know what belongs in the trash and recycling. Make it friendly (so they don't feel like they are being attacked). Who knows, they may not even know!

2) Report it to the city, and the city may deal with it (depending on where you are from)


3) Tell them you are going door-to-door giving out updated lists of what belongs in the garbage and recycling. You can even say you are part of a local environment group or something. It's not as intimidating as talking neighbor-to-neighbor...

4) As another user said, many cities offer incentives for correct recycling. Research it. Call your local city center and find out what they think you should do.

Good luck! : )

Answer 2

I live in MN and if this happened here they would not have recycling bins to use at all. We get discounts on our water bills if we recycle every other week here. It ends up being about 21 dollars a month off the bill. Not much but every little bit helps. Maybe if your city had some type of incentive they might be willing to change their stupid behavior.

Answer 3

You can't force them to throw cans and bottles in the recycling bin but you can certainly try to keep them from throwing garbage into the recycling cans.

Since they are not using the bins correctly (and obviously don't want to recycle), then why don't you just move the bins somewhere else where they are easily accessible to you alone?

Or, if they have their own recycle bins, you can just ask the city to remove theirs and cite the violation

Answer 4

you can call the refuse company and report them, the next time they come to collect they will open the cans and inspect them. If there is visible garbage in the recycle bin they'll leave it on the curb and if it happens again your neighbors could get fined.

Answer 5

Our city has a doorknob flyer that lists (in words and pictures) all of the acceptable items for recycling, and a large list of examples of things that are not. Perhaps you could hang them on your neighbors doors, or tape the flyers to the cans and bins.

Answer 6

I would take their bins away. I would also get the pleasant neighbors to mention something to them, maybe individually or at a homeowner's meeting etc. They might not care, but they should. :) I recycle whenever possible. I am TRYING to do my part.

Answer 7

If it is a city ordnance then call the recycling department. They will look into it and hopefully they will get fined. The only way they will learn with it hits their wallet. Or just keep leaving them notes saying "I am sorry that you have trouble with the comprehension but this is only for Recycling" and if need be you can describe what recycling is.

Good Luck.

Answer 8

My town puts stickers on your garbage if you dont recycle or mix it. They give you a warning and then if you dont follow the moral code you will be fined. It pisses me off when I walk my dogs and I see that my recyclables are 4 times more then everyone else around my house. Ignorance is not bliss.

Answer 9

They obviously don't care anything about the earth and what they're doing to it. If they're just throwing trash in it anyway, it's not useful to them. I would take away their recycle bin.

Answer 10

An ounce of kindness might go a long way. Simply let them see you sorting their trash into the right bins and smile at them and say something like, "imagine the silly people who did this and can't keep the bins straight. I pray for them."

It's pretty hard for them to be mean back at you. Maybe a few weeks of your patience and "prayers" will help them learn to sort properly.