We live in a very small townhome association, of which I am the President. The Treasurer and Secretary and I got together recently and wrote a "reminder" to everyone that boxes need to be broken down, garbage needs to be put in plastic bags and securely tied, etc. Although this was directed to "everyone" it was mainly for a new resident, who moved in a few months ago. This person buys on E-Bay and has anywhere from 5 to 15 boxes delivered to him every day. He has been given 5 verbal warnings/requests prior to the written "reminder". He isn't speaking to any of us, since the last verbal request. As we don't know him well, I am worried that he might throw some poisoned food over my back fence that my dogs might get, as revenge. I now walk outside and monitor my dogs even in the middle of the night. The boxes still fill the dumpster, garbage is thrown into the dumpster, loose. What do we do next? Ignore it? The Waste Management truck refused to pick up the garbage last week as it was way overloaded!!!
Same day! Just to comment on some of the comments. We do have a 2nd dumpster at the opposite end of the complex, and he uses it as well. We do have an "official" Rules and Regulations which was passed by a vote of all the residents, prior to him moving in, which he chooses to ignore. Thus the "reminder" note to everyone. He owns the townhome so he can't be evicted as a couple of people suggested. If he won't obey the rules, I'd hardly think he'd be willing to pay for an extra recycling bin or dumpster, which we wouldn't have room for anyway. Basically by continuing his behavior, he's saying "His way or the highway"!!!
Have Waste Management send all the residents a letter saying why the garbage won't be picked up. If he still won't cooperate, have a lock put on the dumpster, and give keys to the residents who comply with the rules. What a jerk!
If he is in violation of the lease, evict him.
If not, have a 2nd dumpster put in.
Your need is surpassing your current dumpster. While it's good manners to break things down and seal your bags, it's not enforceable. You can't really require it.
If it helps, send him the bill. But again, you can't really make him pay it.
Is there just one dumpster for trash and recyclables? Or is there one dumpster for trash and one dumpster for recyclables like boxes? If there is no recyclables/cardboard dumpster, ask WM how much extra per month one would cost. Then send a letter asking the residents if they are willing to cover this extra cost. It may be that the new resident himself would be willing to cover most if not all of it.
A "cardboard" dumpster is not only being green, but the opening is small, which requires you to break the boxes down in order to dispose of them.
He is complying with the rental agreement you evict him plain and simple imo. Why should everyone else be effected by it when you have the power to ultimately stop it. Put your foot down now before it gets too out of control. Good luck!
OK why are you worried about your dogs? Has he ever threatened them? If not, let that go.
The association needs to institute a fine system for these kinds of offences. Otherwise, what's the point of warning him. I promise that once he has to start paying for his behavior, it will stop.
Make sure you understand association law and get everything passed by the majority, as necessary. From there, fine away.
Is this rule written into a lease or other type agreement? If so, give him a written notice that he is breaking the agreement by these actions. Remind him of consequences (a fine? eviction?).
Remove the dumpster. That's the only way.
I'm very sorry,
Dawn
It sounds as if the homeowners association has communicated with him in writing only, so far, other than what you call "verbal warnings." I'm not sure how the verbal warnings were delivered, or by whom. If it was anything other than a formal, group visit of officers to his home, or a formal meeting with him elsewhere, I would do that next; you and the other officers should tell him you are scheduling a meeting to talk to him about the dumpster issues and if he chooses not to attend, the next step will be action up to and including a fine, which you will repeat every time he is in violation. But do you have the ability to fine? Many HOAs do, but you don't mention that as a tool you have. I would get the HOA board/membership to vote on fines as soon as possible and approve them, so you can use that in this case. You may have to fine him repeatedly to get through to him.
Be sure to have clear photos of the overfilled dumpsters and photos that show his name and address clearly on the discarded boxes etc. Keep them as evidence later. Also, consider having Waste Management (rather than the homeowners association) write a letter to the entire community about what constitutes a problem for them -- the circumstances under which they will refuse to pick up; distribute it to "everyone" as you did with the earlier reminder; it likely won't change his ways but does allow you to say, "The waste company, not just us, has been very clear about this in writing" if you need to take action against this guy. Just a little more in your arsenal, so to speak.
Another thought: While you cannot legally prevent him from getting all the mail and deliveries he wants, you can also ask the local police if it should be red flag that someone is getting up to 15 deliveries a day; is it possible he's running a business from his home? If so, does he need a license for it? If he's running an unlicensed business from home, that might be another avenue to pursue, though it will make him angry.
What HOA or agreement do you have? If he is in violation of the HOA rules, usually there are fines (we were threatened with a fine for not removing holiday decorations fast enough) for such behavior. Presumably the boxes have his address on them so you know who it is. Could the HOA fine him the fee for needing a special pickup due to the volume? Or, maybe present to the community that due to the extra volume and need, you have contacted WM and they say you (plural) need to pay x for another dumpster.
I also like the idea that you have a special paper/cardboard dumpster, but I suspect he will not comply with that, either.
If you are worried about retribution like him poisoning your dog, you might want to ask the cops at what point they intervene.
I don't really know if there's anything you can do. You can fine him, but if he doesn't pay, I don't know that there's a way to enforce it. So, he may be right, it may be "his way or the highway!"
So, you want to limit the amount of trash someone throws away? Or just the method, such as not breaking down the boxes? I imagine he can really just do what he wants. It is not illegal to throw your trash away. I don't know what I would do in your place, not have a place to put your trash would be very annoying.
Get a lawyer or a mediator.
I was thinking of one more thing. If this person is having 5 to 15 boxes delivered to him every day (and not small files or envelopes, but, obviously, big, space-taking boxes), how about the fire safety aspect? Is this person hoarding objects which could easily compromise his safety and the safety of the other residents? I would go to the police, as someone else suggested, and discuss the legal side of it, but I would also mention the issue of fire safety, which could affect everyone. What a piece of work this guy is. Unbelievable...
I am the treasurer of our condo and I know WM charges us if people throw trash in our recyclables bin or if they can't pick up the trash for any reason. These fines can be passed through if you clearly announce it. He may not pay but it would be hard to ever sell the place without clearing the balance up. In our building new payments are always paid towards oldest invoices first. So if someone doesn't argue a charge immediately, their next assesment payment goes to the fine and the remainder to the assesment. Every month that passes they have less to argue. I would also suggest that someone does say something directly to him. Be kind, it may go along way.
Lock the dumpster or area in which its in. Can you give a certain sized can to every resident? require them to buy a outdoor trash can. They can dump that the day before pick up in the dumpster. If the lid doesnt fit properly on the cans, then I would start charging over fill fees. Our city wont dump the garbage out of a can where the lid doesnt fit on properly. If we have too much garbage we are to bag it and put it outside the can on the ground, and they charge a fee per bag. Do you guys NOT have recycling there? Can you get a recycle bin and have him put his boxes there? If you are management then your not the owner right? is there an owner? they need to give him notice of eviction if he is not complying to the rules. He is a nuisance tenet. Time to find a new place for him to live.
oh I re-read that.. townhomes, I take it he doesnt rent. Well if you are sharing garbage and its association there are rules you can or should obey, and if he doesnt then he is banned from the dumpster and needs to get his own personal garbage service. Letters don't always work, and just out of curiosity why would you be afraid of this guy poisoning your dogs? Has he made threats? acted accordingly? It's just garbage and he may not like the way its being addressed and stop talking to you. If he is threatening you, then you need to evict him and get a restraining order. If not then your fear is likely unwarranted, and you are stressing over garbage.
