Down in the Dumps

Ever since we bought our first house in West Kildonan, we’ve had a dumpster in the back alley.  We’ve felt very fortunate to take our garbage out whenever we need and not worry about missing garbage day.  These bins are so efficient and convenient.  Unfortunately, they are too convenient.  Pick-up trucks drive by and conveniently dump construction waste, yard waste, and household furniture and belongings into the bins.  

This morning, the bin was piled high as usual, with all manner of things, as if the contents of an unsuccessful garage sale had been transferred there.  It was smelly and full of flies (none of our dumpsters have lids as they were melted in dumpster fires).  I looked over to a neighbouring bin and it was piled even higher and overflowing. 

I know that short-notice evictions happen.  Occasionally, someone on my block might buy a new couch or mattress.  But the amount of furniture, clothing and household items that end up in every dumpster down our alley would dictate that we all get rich or evicted every week.  And that just isn’t the case.

What is the solution?  For awhile, I was a vigilante who chased away trucks that looked unfamiliar or tried to take down license numbers and report them. At best, it moved the problem down the lane (and I have better things to do).  When the city didn’t seem to take action, the idea of direct retaliation became tempting (slashing tires, spray-painting truck boxes, and dumping rotting material into the cab all come to mind when the frustration mounts).  But those types of reaction are not going to promote personal safety or be viewed favourably by the justice system.

So what do we do?  Continue to watch helplessly as our bins invite flies and budding arsonists, and our back alley is taken over by ugliness?  It is depressing to walk down our alley and see the garbage overflowing.  I didn’t fully realize how others view our community until talking with a near-retired neighbour just today.  He recounted how he spotted three young people (with jobs, they pointed out) unloading their truck into our dumpster and confronted them.  The conversation went like this: “You can’t throw your garbage in there—you need to take it to the dump”.  To which came the reply, “What do you mean?  This is the dump.”

If that is the attitude we are fighting, perhaps a media campaign would help.  If enforcement is the problem, is video surveillance the answer?  Something like mobile photo radar?  With a ticket worth $5000, the city should jump at the chance to bring in revenue.  Maybe the only answer is to get rid of the dumpsters altogether.  I’ve heard that’s in the works anyway.  Which is sad.  It’s a shame that such an efficient garbage removal system be trashed.

Meantime, maybe I’ll get creative.  Plant some flowers.  Use some humour.  Maybe paint a sign on my already-pink dumpster that says, “Don’t throw your junk in my backyard—my backyard’s full”.