Neighbor Problem

Neighbors moved in about 2 years ago. They are basically side yard neighbors. They put their garbage/recycling out at the end of their drive which is basically in front of our house. It often takes them 2 days to bring the cans in. We haven't made an issue of it. Typically we just put them in their drive off to the side. Today I came home to see a queen size mattress has been put out. I have a beautiful view of it from the rooms in the front of my house. Garbage pick up is Tuesday and there is no way this will be picked up. I'm considering knocking on their door tomorrow and asking them what their plan is.

Thoughts?

why won't it be picked up? They may have called and paid for a bulk pick up or a junk removal service and maybe it's even for Monday. I'd give it a rest for a few days. You aren't going to die from looking at a mattress at the curb. Perhaps if I was having an open house tomorrow I'd ask them to move it, otherwise not so much.

Which town are you in?  Garbage in Maplewood is backyard pick-up only.  Cans don't go by the street.  

Bulk pick-up goes by the street. However, it's not supposed to go out until the night before scheduled pick-up.  

It sounds like time for a talk.

geez. Maybe they aren't going to be around tomorrow. Maybe the person strong enough to bring it to the curb won't be around next few days. It's not like it's going to be out there for weeks. It's Saturday and you're saying the pick up is Tues. lighten up.

conandrob240 said:

geez. Maybe they aren't going to be around tomorrow. Maybe the person strong enough to bring it to the curb won't be around next few days. It's not like it's going to be out there for weeks. It's Saturday and you're saying the pick up is Tues. lighten up.

To be clear, garbage men do not pick up mattresses

Mattress might qualify as bulk pick-up in some towns.   A lot of this depends on where you live. If cans are put out in a timely fashion, on a flat surface, and squarely on the owner's own property, they are doing what they are supposed to do to get their refuse picked up.  In Maplewood, in a Tuesday/Thursday zone, between twice a week trash pick-up, recycling, and garden clippings pick-up, these cans can be put out up to four times a week.  With five pm day before allowance, the number jumps to six.  What did the prior neighbors do differently? 

They may have already signed up for bulk pick up or hired a junk removal. If it's still there Weds, then being the helpful neighbor I'm sure you are, you can inform them if their pick up options. They've been here 2 years so I'm guessing they have a plan. And I'm guessing it went out a few days early because someone was away or a new mattress was coming today or some other logical reason.

cubby said:

conandrob240 said:

geez. Maybe they aren't going to be around tomorrow. Maybe the person strong enough to bring it to the curb won't be around next few days. It's not like it's going to be out there for weeks. It's Saturday and you're saying the pick up is Tues. lighten up.

To be clear, garbage men do not pick up mattresses

When the Seton Hall folks moved out, they left am almost new mattress in front of my house. I called the town and they said the only thing they could do is cite me for leaving it in front of my house. IOW, it was my problem. Some soul picked it up—as I said, it was in excellent condition. I got lucky that I didn’t have to pay to have it removed. 

Waste Management (Maplewood) picked up a queen box spring from my house just a week ago.  WM used to pick up bulk items the last Wednesday of the month, and you had to call first, but this policy changed. Now they will pick up on the regular garbage day - but there could be some limit like only once a week or only one item at a time that I am forgetting. 

cubby said:

conandrob240 said:

geez. Maybe they aren't going to be around tomorrow. Maybe the person strong enough to bring it to the curb won't be around next few days. It's not like it's going to be out there for weeks. It's Saturday and you're saying the pick up is Tues. lighten up.

To be clear, garbage men do not pick up mattresses

People in my neighborhood have been putting out larger and larger items for pickup by waste managment , couches, tables , mattresses.. it all seems to be picked in a couple of days...

I don't live in Maplewood and nobody from town picks up mattresses/furniture

you know that for 100% fact? Many towns have a pick up service for a fee by reservation. They may have also hired a private company. If it's still there mid-week, maybe then you can offer some advice on how to get it picked up. Until then, I'd leave them alone.

I think we are so lucky living in  Maplewood Recycling is every week and nothing has to be separated. I was talking to a friend who lives in Union county and they still have that nuisance. Also backyard pickup is great. Don't have to stare at neighbors'garbage cans. Also one bulky item can be put curbside once a week.

FWIW, we also have mandatory backyard pick up in South Orange.

You pay for it. It's not really luck. 

galileo said:

I think we are so lucky living in  Maplewood Recycling is every week and nothing has to be separated. I was talking to a friend who lives in Union county and they still have that nuisance. Also backyard pickup is great. Don't have to stare at neighbors'garbage cans. Also one bulky item can be put curbside once a week.

conandrob240 said:

you know that for 100% fact? Many towns have a pick up service for a fee by reservation. They may have also hired a private company. If it's still there mid-week, maybe then you can offer some advice on how to get it picked up. Until then, I'd leave them alone.

Yes. I know it for sure. They pick up garbage in garbage cans and recycling. For 2 years I've had to drage emtpy cans in from the front of of my house, up their drive 1-2 days after pick up and I we haven't complained to them once. We just do it. Frankly tired of staring at their garbage out my front window directly in front of my property. Now, its a queen size mattress. Could be they have made an arrangemnt, but why put it in the street in front of my house? Why not leave it at the end of their drive which would still allow them to pull 2 cars in and out. Again, the end of their drive butts up against the front of my property.

Its now been pulled onto the side of their drive, just lke we do with the garbage cans. So in fact, we once again "fixed" thiis without complaining to them

let me get this straight- their mattress was put out for pick up on their property (yes, I understand it's actually shared). you went out and moved the mattress to the other side of their property? How silly.

conandrob240 said:

let me get this straight- their mattress was put out for pick up on their property (yes, I understand it's actually shared). you went out and moved the mattress to the other side of their property? How silly.

Nope. The mattress was put out on town property in front of our house and in front of our front yard in the curb. 

We were these neighbors over a decade ago. We put our recycling on the berm that was between our two driveways. One day our neighbors asked if we could put our recycling on the berm on the other side of our driveway instead (more in front of our house). So, now we do.

we wrap our recycling in gold leaf before assembling it in elaborately cantilevered displays in front of our domicile 

I think you would save on gold leaf if you waited to gild it until after assembly.

ml1 said:

we wrap our recycling in gold leaf before assembling it in elaborately cantilevered displays in front of our domicile 

If you want to be cheap about it, yeah. If you gonna go glam, go full glam!

blianderson said:

I think you would save on gold leaf if you waited to gild it until after assembly.

ml1 said:

we wrap our recycling in gold leaf before assembling it in elaborately cantilevered displays in front of our domicile 

Is it time for leaf pickup already?

If you've never told them this bothers you, they probably have no idea. Maybe tell them in a nice way that you'd prefer if trash/recycling whatever was not left in front of your house? For you, the annoyance has been building for two years, I understand, but they won't know that unless you tell them. That's what I'd try, anyway.

DaveSchmidt said:

Is it time for leaf pickup already?

No!

cody said:

If you've never told them this bothers you, they probably have no idea. Maybe tell them in a nice way that you'd prefer if trash/recycling whatever was not left in front of your house? For you, the annoyance has been building for two years, I understand, but they won't know that unless you tell them. That's what I'd try, anyway.

Agreed. To OP, I'm surprised you've waited two years to say something. It probably hasn't occurred to them. 

joan_crystal said:

DaveSchmidt said:

Is it time for leaf pickup already?

No!

Ah. Then gold leaf probably isn't a good idea.

conandrob240 said:

You pay for it. It's not really luck. 

galileo said:

I think we are so lucky living in  Maplewood Recycling is every week and nothing has to be separated. I was talking to a friend who lives in Union county and they still have that nuisance. Also backyard pickup is great. Don't have to stare at neighbors'garbage cans. Also one bulky item can be put curbside once a week.

A lot of communities don't have the option of paying for it.   I'm happy to have it too...

conandrob240 said:

let me get this straight- their mattress was put out for pick up on their property (yes, I understand it's actually shared). you went out and moved the mattress to the other side of their property? How silly.

Not for nothing, when you were trapped in florida and sought advice and comfort here, people treated you with kindness and information . Perhaps you should extend the same courtesy. 

what on earth does advice and support during a natural disaster have to do with someone being called out for being ridiculous about a mattress being put out at the curb? 

what information should I be providing? I already shared some scenarios where this person might be having their mattress picked up. As for "kindness"- I didn't realize this was a life or death situation that needed compassion. Personally, I think the kindness should go the other way to the neighbor- people put out a mattress for christs sake. Give them a day or two to have it picked up before you start acting so deeply troubled.