I think Joe is on the right track: perhaps it's best to make the
assumption that they just don't know they're being rude & doing the
wrong thing! I'd start with a polite note to them, slipped in their
door (better than talking to just one of them, who might not pass the
word along), attaching a copy of the City's recycling information
(which you can download online). Also, depending on your relationship
with the landlord, if you are on good terms, you might call or email
the landlord & say that the students need instruction and more
containers (and "good neighbor" lessons).
If your polite note is ignored and the landlord isn't concerned, then
next I'd write a more serious note and cc the landlord, so that the
students know they're being "reported." You might also find out
how/where to send it to the folks who issue trash tickets, so that
you've got something in writing showing that there is a problem and
you've tried to solve it - probably useful to have, if you get a ticket
because of their trash.
If none of this helps, the next step would be to report this to
L&I.....if it's a single family house, the law says "not more than 3
unrelated persons in a dwelling unit...." It's not enforced often, but
sometimes it does get enforced, and no landlord wants L&I looking
closely at her/his building.
I understand what you're saying about not wanting to antagonize them,
but this is lease renewal time for most student landlords, so RIGHT NOW
- but not six months from now - the landlord would be able to
non-renew, and then replace the bad tenants at the end of the lease.
So s/he wouldn't have as much to lose by being tough on them. If you
wait till later in the spring, the landlord will be afraid of having a
vacancy if they go, so s/he'll be less likely to try to change their
behavior.
Melani
Melani Lamond, Associate Broker
Urban & Bye, Realtor
3529 Lancaster Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
cell phone 215-356-7266
office phone 215-222-4800, ext. 113
-----Original Message-----
From: Ann Mayer <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, Jan 5, 2011 5:41 pm
Subject: [UC] re: neighbors dumping their trash in my receptacles
Anyone know what the best way is to handle my student neighbors who
dump their trash both in my
trashcan (both before it is put out on the sidewalk and after it is
placed out for collection) and in
my recycling bin? What they often do is COMBINE recycling material
with trash, and I am
worried that I am going to get in trouble with the city for not
recycling properly.
I just came back from the holidays to find my trashcan (on my property)
stuffed to the brim with
a combination of their trash and materials that we are required to
recycle.
These are exceptionally piggish students, who are also inconsiderate in
other ways.
Since they are not nice peoplet to begin with, I am anxious not to get
into a situation where I
unduly antagonize them, which would likely result in more hassles.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Ann
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